Plans to convert a care home used for dementia patients and over 65s into a 21-bedroom HMO have been unveiled.

If approved, Kent House Nursing Home in Broadstairs would see its elderly residents move out – with a planning application submitted in the hopes of seeing the Fairfield Road property turned into a house of multiple occupation.

Currently run by UV Care Group, owner Indi Toot is behind the plans through a separate company, N&I Holdings.

However, critics of the scheme say it will invite crime into the area as well as cause parking issues in the already congested neighbourhood.

Explaining the scheme, the Mr Toot’s planning application to Thanet District Council (TDC) officers says: “In terms of any impact on neighbouring living conditions, it is likely that the current nursing home generates a certain number of comings and goings from staff, even if residents do not come and go very often.

“There is expected to be a lot of movement in this location already and the introduction of an HMO over an operational care home is unlikely to increase the overall levels of movement to or from the premises.

“It will be a largely ‘car-free’ scheme due to its location and connectivity to public transport.”

TDC officers confirmed a total of 22 people would be able to live at the 21-bedroom property – with one room having a kitchenette which would allow two people to live there.

Four communal kitchens, three communal showers, three communal lounges and two laundry rooms would be put in place across the two-storey building.

The number of parking spaces would go down by one to seven while the number of cycle spaces would be boosted to accommodate 10 bikes.

However, despite the plans representing a similar number of residents to what is already present at Kent House critics have slammed the project.

Kevin Andrews told planning officers: “Allowing this change of use from a care home, where virtually no parking is needed to potentially needing a further 21 parking spaces, will saturate the surrounding area and cause even more congestion.

“There is already severe congestion in Fairfield Road due to cars parking at peak times.”

James Collins added: “Around peak times, you could not get an ambulance or fire engine through locally, the traffic is horrendous as it is, let alone allowing up to 21 vehicles to try and find somewhere to be parked in the local area.

‘We have all learnt from the recent pandemic that for mental health purposes, having individual outdoor space is crucial…’

“If you've driven up Fairfield Road at 8.30am on a school day you'll have realised already that adding more vehicle movements to the area is madness.”

In his objection, Alistair Baldwin referenced his personal research suggesting HMOs “risk an increase of crime” for “already stretched” emergency services.

He added: “The proposed 21 households would have very little recreational and outdoor space. We have all learnt from the recent pandemic that for mental health purposes, having individual outdoor space is crucial.”

The site neighbours the Charles Dickens and Dane Court secondary schools.

Previous plans to renovate Kent House include an approved proposal to turn the building into a block of eight flats, each coming as a two-bedroom property.

Operator UV Care Group claims “the investment required to bring the building up to a suitable standard, coupled with the rising energy and building costs” will make the site unviable as a care home.

It is understood the existing plan to relocate residents to Keele House in Ramsgate remains in place though a timeframe for this is yet to be revealed.

The care home currently employs 16 full-time and two part-time staff. It has not been confirmed whether or not these employees would have a job elsewhere following the prospective closure of the care home.

Mr Toot confirmed the scheme to KentOnline but declined to comment further.