Plans to transform a disused student accommodation block into one of Kent’s biggest houses in multiple occupation have been refused.

Thanet District Council (TDC) rejected the scheme for Northwood Court in Broadstairs, a former Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) building, which proposed repurposing the site as an 84-bed HMO.

The proposals would have seen the three-storey building split up into 17 sections, with all bedrooms boasting an en-suite and a kitchen shared between four to five occupants.

Applicant Jamie Copland previously stated that the new plans would provide much-needed housing in an area that has seen a significant increase in demand for HMOs.

However, TDC remained unconvinced, raising concerns over the impact on existing residents due to the increase in noise and disturbance from the high concentration of HMO rooms.

It was also added that more information was required to assess the highway impact from the proposed development.

The officers report stated: “It is recognised that there are benefits from the provision of additional housing within the district from the proposed development and that this brings some economic and social benefits.

“It is, however, noted that the proposed development would result in the loss of land allocated for employment purposes, making a valuable contribution to the employment land supply for the district.

“it is not considered that the benefits of the proposed development outweigh the loss of the allocated employment site.”

The scheme also faced mass opposition from residents with more than 130 letters of objection registered on TDC’s planning portal.

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Northwood Court closed down in 2018 and was purchased by Nelson College London in May 2022.

By November of that year, Nelson College agreed to let the premises to Clearsprings Ready Homes, a firm providing accommodation for asylum seekers under contract to the Home Office.

While some occupants were moved into the premises, it was quickly shut down and occupants removed when it was discovered certain conditions of the lease had not been met.

Planning permission in October 2023 to turn the site into accommodation for Thanet Earth workers was approved, although the developer suggests this had never been implemented.

It was previously announced that KCC wanted boys aged 16-17 who had newly arrived in the UK from Dover accommodated there for an eight-week period.

Under these proposals, the facility would have been run by Ready Homes, which already operates children's homes on behalf of the county council.

This application was withdrawn in August, and KCC had previously confirmed that Mr Copland’s plans were unrelated.