Residents fear plans to turn a care home into bedrooms for "young professionals" will be dangerous and noisy.  

A 17-bed house in multiple occupation has been proposed for a "peaceful" cul-de-sac in Ashby. But neighbours have raised serious concerns that their street cannot cope with such an increase in residents. 

They say the narrow roads of Churchill Close, of Burton Road, are already "restricted", and driving along them "difficult to manage safely". Cars often have to either reverse along it or mount the pavement to pass each other.  

Residents of the close fear adding more cars into the mix would "create serious congestion" and "significantly increase safety risks for residents, pedestrians and emergency services".  

One said: "The road infrastructure was never designed for such density of occupation, and the increase in traffic generated by this application would, in my view, make the area unsafe and unworkable." 

The scheme would see the former Lyndhurst Lodge Care Home converted into a "high-end boutique shared professional residence" if approved by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC), applicant Lyndhurst Ashby Ltd said. The site would be split into three separate houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs), each with between five and seven residents in them. 

A HMO is a home where different households share living spaces such as the kitchen, living room and bathrooms. 17 parking spaces would also be provided on the site. 

The care home has stood empty since September 2024, planning documents added. Plans state the development would be "aimed at young professionals" and would "help to fill a gap in the local housing needs" by providing a "high quality, yet affordable alternative to the high -priced housing in the area".  

In addition to road safety concerns, residents fear the new use for the site would change the character of their "quiet" cul-de-sac for the worse.  

One said: "A 17-bed HMO is likely to generate increased noise, activity and disturbance, materially altering the quiet, residential character of Churchill Close and this part of Burton Road." 

A second asked: "What protections would be put in place to safeguard the community? Who would be responsible for tenant selection? What vetting processes would be used? How would tenants be monitored?  

"The complete lack of clarity leaves residents exposed to significant uncertainty, potential disruption, increased noise, late night noise. The day-to-day movements associated with [the scheme would] immediate[ly] erode residents' safety, the peace and amenity of the area.  

"Residents have the right to expect a level of safety and calmness that this proposal cannot provide." 

Consultation on the scheme will run until Monday 5 January, with more information available on the NWLDC planning portal. A target decision date has been set for Thursday 22 January.