A £1.65 million boutique hotel could be turned into a care home.

Plans are in place to transform luxury Tonge Barn as the borough faces a huge shortfall in facilities for the elderly and vulnerable.

Planning documents sent to Swale council on behalf of applicant Stephen Best revealed there would be no change to the fabric of the 19th-century building in Church Road, Tonge, near Sittingbourne.

The 12-bedroom Grade II-listed barn conversion remains on the market after being listed two years ago and also boasts a detached yoga studio overlooking a river.

It was described by Foundation Property estate agents as having “a wealth of period features, including exposed beams, exposed brickwork and vaulted ceilings”.

They continued: "As you enter the main barn, you are greeted by an impressive beamed and vaulted ceiling, with an entrance area overlooked by a galleried landing above.

"To the left, there is a lovely sitting area, with exposed floorboards, brickwork, beams, wood panelling and a wood-burning stove.

"To the right of the entrance hall, there is a spacious open plan kitchen/dining area, with a similar array of fine period features.

"A huge set of oak sliding doors open into the extended ground floor accommodation - formed from an old bakery - which consists of five double bedrooms plus a utility/laundry room."

In addition to the main barn, there are three, self-contained courtyard rooms as you enter the grounds, as well as 12 parking spaces which will stay the same if the change of use application is approved.

Behind the property, there is another wing which consists of four garden rooms with views over the gardens and the countryside beyond.

If approved, the residential care home would employ 10 full-time and five part-time staff.

It would retain the 12 bedrooms, but it is not yet known if the home would be for the elderly or those with other care needs.

However, the application comes amid a “clear and growing unmet need” for such facilities in Swale.

That was the argument in support of plans to build a 75-bedroom care home in Borden near Sittingbourne, submitted last month.

It included a statement from property consultants Carterwood which estimated 750 care home beds are needed in the town by 2026, accounting for growth in the elderly population.

Elsewhere in the borough, on Sheppey, there was outrage after the Island’s last Kent County Council-run care home, Blackburn Lodge, was closed suddenly in November due to unsafe iron levels in the water.

It has not reopened and the authority is proposing to close it permanently.