Plans to convert a disused student accommodation block into homes for unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) teens have been axed.

Hundreds of objections were lodged over the proposal for Northwood Court in Broadstairs, a former Canterbury Christ Church University building, to be used by Kent County Council (KCC) to fulfil its legal requirements to house the growing number of people arriving in Britain.

If plans had progressed, the former university digs would have had the capacity for 86 youngsters.

The decision to scrap the bid came days after a KCC spokesperson told KentOnline it had not withdrawn from the scheme in the face of fresh proposals being submitted by an HMO (house in multiple occupation) landlord last month.

KCC has now revealed timescale pressure to deliver the scheme amid delays to the planning application for the UAS centre and the new HMO application meant it has pulled out.

Earlier this month, it was revealed the authority had taken over Connors House in Canterbury to establish a centre for UAS children.

A high court ruling last November said KCC “must take every possible step to increase its capacity to accommodate and look after all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UAS children) arriving in Kent”.

This is to ensure it fully complies with its statutory Children Act 1989 duties and to end the unlawful use of hotels managed by the Home Office.

Plans for Northwood Court were put forward by applicant Jamie Copland to split the three-storey building into 17 sections, with all bedrooms boasting an en-suite and a kitchen shared between four to five occupants.

HMOs have grown in popularity in recent years, as landlords look to provide alternative forms of living for those being priced out of traditional renting.

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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 people removed when it was discovered certain conditions of the lease had not been met.

‘The difficult decision was taken by KCC to end the procurement due to the uncertainty of Northwood Court being a viable option…’

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.

Within months, it was announced KCC wanted boys aged 16 to 17 who had newly arrived in the UK at Dover accommodated there for an eight-week period.

A spokesperson for KCC said: “I can confirm that Clearsprings Ready Homes has withdrawn its planning application for Northwood Court, Broadstairs.

“The application was submitted by Clearsprings Ready Homes following a successful tender for an additional Reception Centre required by KCC. The tender was to award a contract, subject to planning permission being achieved.

“The delays in the planning application being heard and the recent submission of an alternative planning application for a potential 84-bed HMO, put pressure on Clearsprings Ready Homes to enter into an early lease which it is unable to do before certain parameters are met.

“Therefore, the difficult decision was taken by KCC to end the procurement due to the uncertainty of Northwood Court being a viable option within the timescales required to fulfil our court-ordered duties.

“While this is disappointing, KCC has a legal duty and is under a Court Order to provide accommodation for all UAS children while they are in Kent and will be seeking other available appropriate options in the county as soon as possible.”