Former Kent Premier Inn Set for Transformation into 46-Bed HMO
Alder Design & Build will change the old Premier Inn in Singlewell, Gravesend into a 46-bedroom HMO. The team insists the project will supply good homes. They state the work will not come from a landlord with bad ideas.
Background of the Project
Alder Design & Build bought the hotel from Whitbread in November last year. Before the sale closed, someone put the hotel on Rightmove as "studio flats" for £790 per month. This listing made many raise their brows. Gravesham Borough Council then looked into planning laws since the listing had no proper permission.
The developers said the mistake came from wrong advice about the building’s planning class. After talks with the council, the team sent in plans on April 8, 2025. The plans call to change the site from a hotel to an HMO.
Plan Features and Community Focus
The team shows care for the local people. Jim Godwin, the planning agent, said the change is meant to serve the community. He spoke of building housing that stands on its own — without heavy dependence on outside cash.
Jim said the team will work to change the interior. They will create shared kitchens and living rooms so neighbors can use space side by side. This style meets modern tastes and helps form bonds among residents.
About six of the rooms are now in use. Two studio flats are still rented at £700 a month, not counting bills. In response to growing need, the planned project meets the call for more affordable homes in Gravesend.
Addressing Concerns of Quality and Community Standards
Some people fear poor homes and unruly tenants in HMOs. Alder Design & Build works to remove these fears. Jim Godwin said the team will check all tenants well. They will choose people who help keep the neighborhood calm. He said, “We try to give a good place to live for people who have less money.”
The plan works to shift the view of HMOs away from old negative labels. The focus stays on safe, kind living for all who join in.
Next Steps in the Planning Process
The plans now lie with the council. One does not yet know when a decision will come. A first deadline for talk is set for June 3, 2025. Local people and stakeholders watch the process, keen to see the change shape the future.
Conclusion
Changing the ex-Premier Inn into a 46-bed HMO brings a chance to meet housing needs in Gravesend. The project aims to support local well-being and smart living. With plans that give good homes to many, the work meets a rising need for safe, affordable housing.
As the planning talks begin, the result of this project may serve as a guide for similar changes in other parts of the UK.
Sources:
- Kent Live – Developer’s Assurance on HMO plans
- Rightmove – Listing history of former Premier Inn
- Gravesham Borough Council – Planning Committee Information
