A former student block has been revealed as one of nine new potential Kent homes for unaccompanied asylum-seeking teens.

Kent County Council (KCC) said it has earmarked the locations for reception centres, with Northwood Court in Broadstairs being identified.

The former Limes care home in Dartford is also on the list where work has already started.

However, South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay is “hugely disappointed” that the new site has been picked, due to its proximity to schools and says he worked to quash a similar scheme at the site in November 2022.

It comes after a high court ruling which 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.

They will be used for the temporary accommodation and care of UAS children until they are transferred to another UK authority.

If plans progress, the Broadstairs home will have the capacity for 86 youngsters and was previously student accommodation for Canterbury Christ Church University’s Broadstairs campus.

An application for the project has been submitted to Thanet District Council.

Based on the corner of Millenium Way and Northwood Road, the potential reception centre is a three-storey, detached, U-shaped building.

It has 85 en-suite rooms arranged in flats, as well as a laundry room and on-site parking.

There will be 18 shared kitchens and a communal lounge.

The building would accommodate boys aged between 16-17 years old, for an eight-week period who have newly arrived in the UK from Dover.

It will be run by Ready Homes, which already operates children's homes on behalf of the county council.

Planning documents say: “There are two existing reception centres in Ashford and Cranbrook, however, they cannot meet this significant increase in demand and are unable to expand on-site.

“It is therefore necessary for KCC to open an additional reception centre located near the point of entry of UAS children into Kent.

“KCC has undertaken searches for suitable sites and buildings which could provide the specialist accommodation and as part of this process, Ready Homes identified Northwood Court as the preferred opportunity.”

Should the plan go ahead, some of the skills on offer will be English lessons and independent living.

Off-site trips to local parks, local sports clubs, bowling, the cinema, wildlife parks and the beach will also be run.

The facility will be assisted by NHS health staff, translators and support services, employing 44 full-time staff.

During their stay, the teenagers will be required to return to the site no later than 8pm and be present for a daily registration that takes place shortly before 10pm.

Ready Homes says there will be four security staff on-site and working CCTV.

South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay has expressed his objection to the plan, saying that Northwood Court is too close to schools.

There are two primary schools and one secondary within half a mile of the proposed site.

Mr Mackinlay told KentOnline: “I am hugely disappointed that the former student accommodation at the Christ Church University site in Northwood has come into view once more for use as asylum accommodation.

“I saw off a similar proposal in November 2022 citing the verbal deal that I secured with ministers that because of the Manston site and our proximity to Dover, East Kent would be deemed to be ‘doing its bit’ in the national asylum crisis and would face no accommodation sites.

“The proposal this time is for males aged 16-17.

“I do understand that Kent County Council finds itself in a difficult situation following the loss of a court case which, in summary, said that no matter what the pressures are on the county regarding unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), the statutory duty to deal with any number remains.”

He expressed fear that it would not just be children living at the home.

The Conservative explained: “One hopes that those claiming to be 16 or 17 really are so as it is well documented that older men have been falsely claiming to be children when they are clearly not.

“My concerns remain that it is close to schools and Broadstairs residents are rightly worried and angered.

“The previous Conservative administration at Thanet District Council had an innovative plan to put this building to use as emergency accommodation for local homeless families.

“I hope that planning reasons can be put forward for the change of use to be refused by TDC’s Planning Committee.

“I will be contacting Home Office ministers once more to ask for their intervention.”

Leader of Kent County Council Roger Gough revealed that nine buildings have been deemed suitable to become homes. However the county council remains tight-lipped over where they are situated.

He said: “As required by the court, KCC has been working closely with the Home Office on the provision of appropriate levels of accommodation to meet the required anticipated need.

“Nine homes have been identified and ringfenced central government funding will be provided to meet Ofsted regulations and the ongoing management of these new accommodations so they will not present an additional unfair burden on Kent taxpayers.”

The leader added that the homes will have “stringent security and safeguarding controls in place.”

He continued: “They will be used for the temporary accommodation and care of UAS children until they are transferred to another UK authorities under the National Transfer Scheme.

“New arrivals of UAS children into KCC care dramatically increased following the ruling and, although the council has continued to work hard to accommodate them safely, the existing provision is unable to sustainably cope with demand.

“Additional, suitable temporary accommodation is needed at pace to meet the requirements of the High Court ruling and to ensure the ongoing safe care of UAS children.

“By bringing these properties into use as new reception centres, the council believes it will be better placed to meet the requirements of the court ruling and its statutory duties under the Children’s Act 1989.”