Broadstairs councillor Mike Garner has requested planning committee members scrutinise a proposal to turn an operating care home for older people and those with dementia into a 21-bed House of Multiple Occupation.
The change of use application made by Mr Toot, of N & I Holdings Limited, says: “The application proposes the change of use form an operational care home to a HMO with minimal alterations required to the main building. Each room and shared facility have been carefully considered to meet the requirements detailed within the Local Planning Authority document “Amenity Guidelines for Houses in Multiple Occupation.”
Mr Inderjeet Singh Toot is also the Nominated Individual listed by the CQC for Kent House Residential Home which is run by Kent House Care Home Limited.
The proposals are to convert the care home, which caters for up to 25 residents, to a 21- bedroomed HMO.
The application says: “The proposed internal layouts will be reconfigured with both floors providing adequate bedrooms and shared and private facilities whilst not increasing the current arrangements regarding windows or doors to the outside, preventing any concerns form neighbouring properties over unacceptable living conditions through overlooking, noise, vibrations, light pollution, overshadowing, loss of natural light or a sense of enclosure.
“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. Currently up to 22 rooms are available across the building with visitors likely, staff, and resident movements.
“There is expected to be a lot of movement in this location already and the introduction of a HMO over an operational care home is unlikely to increase the overall levels of movement to or form the premises.”
Thanet council’s licensing officer says the proposal has a sufficient amount of shared kitchens for 20 persons. Bedroom 4 has its own kitchenette, so the room could be occupied by two persons. A HMO licence for the property would allow a maximum of 22 people to live in the building.
A number of objections have been lodged against the proposals and Cllr Garner has called it in to committee due to concerns over an adverse impact on the local highways – potentially insufficient parking on site – insufficient consideration given to the potential impact on neighbouring properties and potential overcrowding of residents within the proposed HMO.
A decision on the application is yet to be made. Documents can be viewed on Thanet council’s planning portal, reference F/TH/24/0302.
According to records lodged with Companies House, Kent House employs an average of 20 staff.
In 2022 Kent House was placed in special measures after receiving an ‘inadequate’ grading from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). At the time of the inspection there were 21 people using the service.
However, the most recent inspection in February 2023 graded the facility as Good.
Inderjeet Singh Toot is also the Nominated Individual listed by the CQC for Keele House in Ramsgate. This home is listed as being run by N & I Holdings. It is understood residents could be moved to this site if they are uprooted from their home to make way for the HMO.
Keele House was also rated as Requires Improvement in 2022 but was also upgraded to Good the following year.
Both homes come under the banner of UV Care Group of which Mr Toot is a director and the person with ‘significant control’ of the company.
