Battle lines have been drawn after campaigners accused developers of trying to turn a historic street into “another HMO alley”.

Frustrated residents took aim at HLPhomes’ plans to revamp an old lawyers’ building in a 19th-century Dover road into a multiple-occupation home.

Practically unheard of until recently, the housing option’s popularity has soared in Kent and beyond in recent years, as many feeling the pinch have turned to more affordable accommodation.

HLPhomes argues in official planning papers converting the former solicitors’ office into a nine-bedroom house will breathe life back into the Castle Street building.

But swathes of neighbours have been quick to point out the Georgian town centre street popular with tourists already hosts two HMOs.

Resident Bayo Oduwole told KentOnline: “It’s a bad idea. There will be no facility for parking or refuse and rodents and vermin are a big issue in Dover.

“Even with high-quality HMOs, apart from an increased density, which stresses refuse collection and parking, you have a transient population so you don’t build any sense of community.”

Neighbour Thomas Poblete said. “Castle Street has so much character and looks like one of the few streets in central Dover that has been taken care of.

“There are already a number of HMOs and I think it’s going to affect the density so I’m against the application.

“We already have problems with rubbish. At 1pm bins are already full and that’s with one family per household.

“Nine more people in one dwelling will make it hard on the street.”

The application is for a Grade II five-storey listed building within the Dover Castle Conservation Area. The property is now empty.

The Castle Conservation Area Group said on Dover District Council’s planning portal: “It is well recognised that HMOs cause an area to have an increase in anti-social behaviour and more crime.

“This once grand street is finally turning a corner with more owner occupiers moving in and turning round the once rundown properties in the street into what they should once more be, family homes.

“It should not be forgotten that Castle Street is in a conservation area and the most photographed street in Dover by tourists from all over the world and is on their route to Dover's number one tourist attraction, Dover Castle.

“Castle Street should be the jewel of Dover, DDC should not allow it to become just another Dover HMO alley.

“Granting planning for this large HMO would put back the regeneration of Castle Street by 20 years.”

Neighbour Louis Melville said: ”Castle Street is Dover's most important street, a main thoroughfare for tourists and part of a conservation area, it is truly a gem of Dover and we should regard it as such.

“The property itself is listed and ideally should be returned to a one family dwelling, or a commercial office space occupied by local businesses.”

Businesses already there include estate agents, chiropodists, accountancy firms, a restaurant and a bar.

Another member of the public, Denise Smith, said on the council’s planning portal: ”Castle Street is beautiful and should be kept as a great example of an elegant town centre street with a view of Dover Castle taken by thousands of tourists.

“HMOs are a blight on any community and should never be allowed in conservation areas.

“The residents may need shelter but do not look after these iconic buildings, quite the reverse.

“Using a heritage building in this way is a waste and an insult to those of us that work hard to keep our remaining historic old buildings up to a good standard.”

By Monday (April 22) there were 18 objections to the scheme from members of the public on the portal and no messages of support.

The application is by HLPhomes of Harrietsham near Maidstone, with DDC planning chiefs expected to make a decision on the plans later this year.

In a design, access and heritage statement to the council the firm acknowledges that parking is restricted for residents so the HMO would best suit occupants using the nearby bus and train services.

The firm said it was offering badly needed and affordable accommodation,

Its document commented: “It is thought that this proposal solves the issue of this property being left vacant for a couple of years, due to lack of demand for commercial buildings in this road.”

HLPhomes has been asked to comment further on the objectors’ criticisms.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Dover town has exactly 60 listed licensed private sector HMOs and there are a total 65 in the district, the others being in Deal.

Folkestone Road has the most with 12, and the second highest figure, seven, is for London Road.

The two in Castle Street are for six people in one property and eight in the other. In the latter the council has received a renewal application.

District councillors last Thursday approved a 61st HMO in Dover, a 12-bed one in Tower Hamlets Street.

Neighbours there were against it saying the area is already overcrowded and it would aggravate the area’s existing parking problems.