Plans to convert a care home into a massive HMO may be dashed amid claims it would trigger traffic “bedlam”.

UV Care Group’s official proposals to revamp Kent House in Broadstairs into a 21-room house of multiple occupancy attracted 39 objection letters.

But the Herne Bay firm argues its “largely car-free scheme” in Fairfield Road will be respectful to neighbouring properties “in terms of noise and general disturbance”.

The building, which has only seven parking bays, was originally earmarked to be revamped into eight flats in February this year.

Yet today it still operates as a care facility, with the owners launching a new bid to overhaul the 21-bedrooms into an HMO in March.

Gnarled-up traffic and potential noise disturbance in a predominantly elderly neighbourhood are some of the concerns voiced in objection letters since then.

At a meeting of TDC’s planning committee, where officers recommended the plans be approved, councillors met to make the final call.

Under TDC policy, HMOs are not meant to be within 100m of other HMOs, but officers explained how, as there are no others nearby, the plans would not damage the “character” of the area.

Speaking against the plans, neighbour Lawrence Coley, said: “We have existing problems with illegal parking during the school pick-up times, this has been ongoing for a long time, the double yellow lines are just ignored.”

Near to the site are three schools - Charles Dickens, Dane Court, and Bromstone Primary.

Mr Coley continued: “All in all this will result in more parking issues in Fairfield Road, which will cause longer backups of traffic, churning out fumes by our schools.

“Emergency vehicles already experience difficulty accessing Fairfield Park as do refuse vehicles.

“This will lead to increasing risk of accidents – in the past 12 months there have been a minimum of five cycles colliding with cars.

“We’re not against change, that’s proved by not opposing the previous application to change Kent House into eight two-bedroom flats, but the HMO is not in keeping with the current area.”

The developer’s traffic surveys did not find any risk of accidents or congestion due to the development, but councillors cast doubt over the findings.

“I’ve got serious concerns about the impact this HMO could have on the neighbours who live in the mansions and who’ve lived there happily for quite a long time,” said Cllr Mike Garner (Green).

“I would advise anybody who has any doubts about this to go up there, stand on the corner of Broadstairs Road and Fairfield Road at 8 o'clock in the morning and then go back in the afternoon, it is bedlam up there, it’s choc a bloc, whatever any report on here says, and this application is likely to make it significantly worse.”

“I don’t believe the contention that this won't have any impact on neighbouring residents through noise or general disturbance,” said Cllr Kristian Bright (Lab).

Cllr Paul Moore (Con), who represents the area on TDC, added: “I personally knew a person that was sadly killed on that road.

“We’ve mentioned a number of accidents that we’ve had on that street scene, how many near misses have we not seen or had reported to us?”

“That area is gridlocked all day every day and I don’t know what these surveyors were watching but it’s not the same road I go through every way and have struggled to get through.”

Cllr Steve Albon (Lab) was also critical, adding: “Overall I just think it’s a step too far, I understand why they’ve made an application for what they want because of its size, but I don’t think it’s the right place, I think that building could be used for something else.”

Speaking in favour, Cllr Rick Everitt (Lab) said: “I don’t think it’s a particularly desirable development,” but added: “we do need provision for single people and people who are unable to afford the ever rising rents in Thanet.”

The committee voted instead to defer the application to work out legitimate reasons to refuse it on traffic grounds.

Speaking after the meeting, Alistair Baldwin, whose property backs directly onto Kent House, said: “You’ve got 20-odd residents who are elderly in Kent House, they don’t use Deliveroo or Amazon all the time, there’s no real impact of them being here.

“We never objected to the improvement of the area with the one or two bedroom flats, we haven't got drawbridge syndrome.

“What we do object to is something destabilising the area.

“I’m hoping it’ll be refused and they’ll keep the care home open as it currently is.”

But UV’s design and access statement says the HMO will be situated within a “sustainable location” and urges the council to approve the plans.

“It will respect the amenity of neighbouring properties in terms of noise and general disturbance,” it adds.

“It will be a largely ‘car-free’ scheme due to its location and connectivity to public transport. It is also considered that suitable waste storage will be provided.

“In light of the above, the application proposal accords with the development plan and therefore has planning merit.

“As such, this application should be properly granted planning permission.”