Plans have been submitted for a fourth time to build a care home in a residential area - sparking renewed concerns from residents.

Avante Care and Support announced its plans to take over the building works of the facility in Westgate-on-Sea.

The scheme would see a 70-bed care home pop up on land between Canterbury Road and Linksfield Road.

But the plans have sparked outrage from residents, who fear their quality of life will be negatively impacted.

Concerns raised include the potential for an increase of traffic and damage to local wildlife, and the height of the development leading to a loss of privacy.

Derek Seaward, whose property would come into contact with the facility, voiced his objection to the current plans.

“To build a care home on this site is not a problem,” Mr Seaward said.

“But to build a property so big that it takes away one’s light, one’s privacy and imposes on a large increase to a local traffic problem is not necessary or even safe.

“All pedestrians using pathways on the western side will be able to look directly into my garden and all persons on 1st and 2nd floors will be able to look directly into all windows of my property, not allowing me any privacy.”

Residents John and Laura Hely also shared their concerns.

“We consider six full-size windows looking directly into our property to amount to significant overbearing,” they said.

“We consider the massing of a three-storey building 30 metres from our garden to amount to a significant loss of outlook.”

“The increase in traffic in the area will add to the already dangerous situation that exists..."

Graham Saint offered his belief that the development would worsen “dangerous” traffic in the area.

“The increase in traffic in the area will add to the already dangerous situation that exists on Canterbury Road at certain times of the day when parking is already a risk to the local community with the sheer number of vehicles using any available space, including the zig-zags either side of the crossings,” he said.

“There needs to be assurances that all deliveries will be unloaded within the site boundaries and not from a lorry that is blocking the highway.”

Darren Baker looked at the ecological aspect of the development, and raised concerns that wildlife would suffer even further in the area.

“During previous site surveys and proposed usage for this land, there has been significant amounts of impact to the habitats for bird life and wildlife with the removal/reduction of several trees upon this land,” said Mr Baker.

“Although the plans suggest a replanting strategy, this clearly would take decades to have an impact.

“I question whether the gung-ho approach to just level the site and plant saplings that could probably provide respite for an insect or three falls some way short of the impact these plans have on the wildlife within the site and the pleasure they bring to the neighbouring houses.”

The site has received significant attention over the past six years from hopeful developers.

A 64-bed scheme was initially rejected in 2016 before amendments saw it win the approval of council planning bosses in May 2017.

A revised plan to upgrade the site was put forward two years later, and plans for 75-bed care home over three storeys was approved in April 2020.

But now, Avante, which operates 10 specialist care homes in Kent and London, says it wants to alter the plans in order to best fit the needs of the business.

It has lodged a new application, with changes believed to be for functional and environmental reasons.

Avante did not respond to a request for comment.