PLANS to set up a 30-room bedsit down the road from a notorious bed and breakfast have been branded “some sort of joke”.

AA Studio architects applied to convert an empty care home in Aldersbrook Road into a 30-room house of multiple occupancy (HMO) on February 2.

The firm claim there is “substantial demand” for HMOs in Aldersbrook and the bedsit would help tackle the need for housing there.

But more than 100 residents have written to Redbridge Council to object the plans, claiming the development is “totally unsuitable” for the quiet conservation area.

Neighbours’ main concern is its close proximity to the Courtney Hotel, which is used as temporary accommodation for homeless families, and they claim is notorious for anti-social behaviour and police visits.

Hamilton Purim, who has lived in nearby Wanstead Park Avenue for 18 years, went on holiday at the beginning of February and only found out about the plans when he got back.

But when the 59-year-old tried to submit his complaints online he found the deadline for objections had already passed (February 22).

He said: “We’re a few houses down from it, but we’re still very close.

“If it goes through I’ll feel cheated and angry.

“It’s totally unsuitable – this is a nice place to live and it’s going to be completely disruptive.

“We’ve already got the Courtney Hotel just down the road and anyone who lives here will tell you how many problems we get there.

“You name it we’ve had it.

“We hear drunk people shouting and there’s been problems with prostitution and kerb crawling.

“It’s going to be similar to that.”

Fellow Wanstead Park Avenue residents John McCarthy and Nina Parish said: “Our first response on hearing this proposal was ‘that must be some sort of joke.

“It’s so unreasonable and completely out of keeping with the area – it’s ridiculously inappropriate.”

Their neighbour Russell Levy claim the development would have a “huge negative impact” on Aldersbrook, while Sue Whitehead said it should be converted into another care home because of “the lack of retirement accommodation in Redbridge”.

The architects claim the 30-room bedsit would only require 13 parking spaces, but Mr Purim says it would need a lot more.

He said: “Parking is already a massive issue here, but that many cars would just make it possible.”

A Metropolitan Police representative said it was “very likely more than 13 parking spaces would be required” and the “transient population would not fit in with the residential nature of the location”.

But director of AA Studios claims the residents would be “professional people”.

He said: “The council wanted the property for social housing but they said no because they didn’t want the problems that can go with it.

“We’ve got properties throughout Redbridge and London, the community shouldn’t be concerned at all.

“We believe we’ve got enough parking spaces because the majority of residents will work in London and use public transport instead.”

A decision is yet to be made on the application, but a Redbridge Council spokesman said: "The application expiry date is March 29 and as with all planning applications the council will take into consideration any representations received up until the time the application is determined. 

"The application has received more than three objections and therefore if officers are minded to approve the application it would need to be determined at planning committee by members.

"The consultation process for this application has followed the council’s normal procedures."