A proposal to turn a care home for older people and those with dementia into a 21-bed House of Multiple Occupation will be discussed by councillors next week.
Permission is being sought to turn Kent House nursing home in Fairfield Road, Broadstairs, which caters for up to 25 residents, into a 21- bedroomed HMO.
The application made by Mr Toot, of N & I Holdings Limited, says: “The application proposes the change of use from an operational care home to a HMO with minimal alterations required to the main building.”
Inderjeet Singh Toot is the Nominated Individual listed by the CQC for Kent House Residential Home which is run by Kent House Care Home Limited.
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.”
Thirty three letters of objection have been received with concerns including the loss of a care home, congestion, potential for ‘undesirable occupants,’ and safeguarding challenges for local schools.
The Broadstairs Society has also objected, saying: “It would change the character of the prevailing area which is predominantly for older people. Furthermore there are highway implications on a busy road.”
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 report to councillors says: “Objections have been received surrounding concerns about incompatible future occupants and the impact on local people, as well as pollution from cars. It cannot be known with any certainty prior to granting planning permission who the future occupants will be for any residential development, including HMOs.
“In terms of pollution from cars, there is no evidence that the cars specifically intended to be parked at this site would cause any significant harm above any other car.”
Cllr Mike Garner has called the application 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.
Councillors are being recommended to defer and delegate the application to officers for approval subject to securing developer contributions.
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.
