Residents in Maidstone, Kent, have voiced strong opposition to plans to convert a former hotel and wedding venue into a 42-unit co-living development, saying they fear the proposal could put additional pressure on parking, local infrastructure and the character of the neighbourhood.
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proposal → voice → neighbourhood
More than 300 objections were submitted before the consultation deadline on September 22, with a planning decision expected at a later date.
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decision → submit → date
The former Grange Moor Hotel is proposed to be converted into 42 studio apartments, which could accommodate an estimated 65 people.
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which → propose → people
Residents living on surrounding roads have described themselves as “devastated” by the plans, with some saying they would not have purchased their homes had they known about the proposed development, according to SWNS.
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they → live → SWNS
‘This was our dream home’
Kate Broom, 51, bought her house in May and said she would have reconsidered the purchase had she known about the proposal.
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she → buy → proposal
“We are absolutely devastated. This was our dream home,” she said.
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she → devastate → ?
Broom said her concerns were primarily about the scale of the proposed accommodation and the existing pressure on local services.
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concerns → say → services
“We have no problem with migrants.
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We → have → migrants
We have to house them somewhere.
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We → have → them
It is not who is going to be there, it is the volume,” she said.
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she → go → ?
We haven’t been able to get a place at a GP surgery yet.
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We → get → surgery
This street can’t cope.”
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street → cope → ?
She added, “We definitely wouldn’t have bought this if we knew.”
Former hotel was a long-standing community venue
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hotel → add → this
The former Grange Moor Hotel is at the centre of a proposed 42-unit co-living development.
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Hotel → propose → development
The three-star Grange Moor Hotel underwent refurbishment and was rebranded as the Apartell in January last year.
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Hotel → undergo → January
However, it closed permanently in December, with planning documents citing “major financial viability issues”.
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documents → close → issues
Jake King, 38, who lives nearby with his partner and their two young children, said the proposed change was particularly upsetting because of the hotel's long history in the area.
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change → live → area
To see it repurposed is sad,” he said.
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he → see → ?
King said he was also concerned about how the development could affect families living nearby.
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development → say → families
“My ten-year-old son heard about it on the way to school and said he is worried about walking to school alone,” he said.
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he → hear → school
Residents raise concerns over parking and property values
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Residents → raise → parking
Jackie Farrington, 84, a former foster carer who has lived on the street for 45 years, said she was concerned about parking, crime and the potential impact on property values.
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she → live → values
We don’t know who is going to be in there.
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who → know → ?
I think it will make the house value go down as well,” she said.
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she → think → ?
Farrington said she had witnessed an increase in HMOs in the area and felt the character of the street had changed.
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character → say → street
“It was a lovely road but it has really changed,” she said.
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she → change → ?
Yvonne Whitehead, 78, who has lived in the area for 35 years and previously ran a nearby nursing home, said the former hotel had personal significance for her family.
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hotel → live → family
“It used to be a lovely hotel.
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It → use → ?
I used to go there for nice dinners.
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I → use → dinners
My children got married there,” she said.
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she → marry → ?
She also raised concerns about the impact of the development on local families and children.
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She → raise → families
Plans include communal facilities and private parking
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Plans → include → facilities
Residents have described themselves as “devastated” by plans to redevelop the former hotel.
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Residents → describe → hotel
The proposed development would feature 42 co-living studio apartments, along with communal kitchens, workspaces, a gym, a community living area, laundry facilities and communal gardens.
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development → propose → kitchens
The plans also include private parking spaces with electric vehicle charging facilities.
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plans → include → facilities
Residents have speculated that the accommodation could eventually house asylum seekers, but this has not been confirmed.
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this → speculate → seekers
The concerns come amid wider complaints from some Maidstone residents about the number of HMOs being developed in the town.
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concerns → come → town
More HMOs planned in other parts of Maidstone
Residents in other parts of Maidstone have also raised concerns about HMO developments.
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Residents → plan → developments
Stefan, 45, who has lived on Campbell Road for five years, said several HMOs were currently being built nearby.
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HMOs → live → years
It has changed a lot since we moved in,” he said.
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he → change → ?
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
