Angry residents living in a landmark town centre building have hit back at plans to replace their rooftop garden with more flats.

Bosses want to construct 18 new apartments on top of The Panorama in Ashford and have been submitted their scheme to Ashford Borough Council (ABC).

Charter House Property is also looking to divide larger apartments on the eighth and ninth floors into smaller flats as developers say the current layout is "generally unattractive to buyers".

But those already living the former Charter House have slammed the proposal as their communal garden will be lost if planning permission is granted.

Matthew Abercrombie - who owns the Vapeology shop in New Rents - moved into a duplex apartment at the top of The Panorama two-and-a-half years ago.

"They are taking away my communal garden, they are talking about diminishing it," the 39-year-old said.

"There are going to be problems with waste, noise and parking - there's not enough parking as it is.

"I was sold the dream but I'm living a nightmare."

Ruth Wadsworth, who lives on the eight floor, has also objected to the application, which will see larger apartments on the eighth and ninth floors divided into 20 flats.

Mrs Wadsworth said: "I was sold the property on the basis that it had amenity space at level nine and I pay service charges to maintain this.

"The amenity space and views will be lost.

"Is the concrete structure able to support more flats?"

Bosses say the existing rooftop garden will become home to 18 apartments with private balconies to create a "neater and more complete top to the profile of the building".

They say the loss of existing amenity space could be off-set by financial contributions towards off-site provisions and civic areas.

When the luxury flats were first put on the market, prices started from £250,000.

Kelly Webb - who lives in Malvern Road but owns a flat in The Panorama - says she is also against the plan.

She said: "I purchased the flat based on the fact it had a roof garden and share spaced on the roof.

"I saw this as an attractive proposition for prospective tenants.

"This was a major selling point to me and if this is to be removed then I would expect significant compensation.

"Also I did not expect further development work to be going on inside the block which will cause disruption to our tenants and may mean the flat is not occupied, resulting in loss of earnings.

"If any further work is done to the roof, it should be to improve the quality of the communal areas for existing flats and not to remove a significant feature."

Separately, the Investin Plc company is also building 110 two-bedroom flats next to The Panorama, with one block on the junction of Wellesley Road and Somerset Road and the other on the corner of Edinburgh Road.

The development is due to be completed later this year.

Charter House Property Limited chiefs say the plan will improve the look of the building.

They said: "Together with the new buildings under construction at present at the base of Charter House to the east and west wings, we feel that the roof improvements would also contribute to a renewed sense of place and a refreshed perception of the building.

"In distant views, the building is considerably enhanced visually and the new roof level serves to reduce the prominence of the phone masts.

"The proposal provides 20 reconfigured and 18 new apartments, a total net gain of 18 new apartments.

"On the roof, there is a maintenance issue regarding water ingress which requires serious remedial attention.

"Also, the amenity terraces have proven to be oversized and are a significant security concern for the long-leaseholder, A2 Dominion."

Victoria ward councillor Dara Farrell (Lab) has branded the redevelopment "inappropriate", saying: "These flats are being sold to people in good faith that they come with rooftop gardens and parking.

"I think it is completely inappropriate to build more flats.

"It's not that they haven't got enough already.

"Just reading the comments on the application, people are talking about water ingress and if the building can cope with extra rooms.

"We are already receiving complaints and comments from residents about parking.

"The application was passed on the basis of rooftop gardens and it isn't fair to just take it away."

The triple-winged office block originally known as Charter House has towered over the Ashford town centre skyline since the 1970s.

"I was sold the property on the basis that it had amenity space at level nine and I pay service charges to maintain this" - Ruth Wadsworth

Today it is called The Panorama following its massive and multi-million pound revamp into flats and apartments by the developer Dukelease Properties which saw the opportunity to convert the empty landmark building into accommodation.

Work had commenced on building Charter House as the regional headquarters for 1970s mining giant Charter Consolidated in December 1971 and staff moved into the triple-winged complex in 1975 as construction of the office block in Park Street was completed.

Its original contractor was Sir Robert McAlpine and Partners and architects Ley Colbeck and Partners.

Charter’s dignitaries and others from Ashford Urban District Council joined the building’s contractors and architects for the topping-out ceremony which took place on October 16, 1973.

But by 1985 Charter had deserted the town due to the decline in mining finance and the building was never fully utilised again until its conversion by Dukelease into hundreds of flats, with a gym and business space on the ground floor.

As well as Charter Consolidated staff, floors of the original office block building were also occupied by other companies at various times including Sealink, Stena and Alliance and Leicester.

As the conversion of Charter House into flats got underway in 2013, Dukelease chief executive Richard Leslie said he was pleased to be sharing the building’s long-awaited transformation with the town’s residents.

He said: “We are looking forward to seeing this iconic building transformed into vibrant homes for local people.

“We do appreciate this building’s rich and colourful history as Charter House, but felt that a name change was a fitting way to celebrate the start of a new era for the building.

“The name – The Panorama – reflects the stunning views of the Ashford and Kent countryside that will be enjoyed by its new residents.

"It has also been influenced by the architecture – with the building’s imposing silhouette forming a panoramic shape.”

The discovery of asbestos in 2014 caused delays to the conversion.

• To view the rooftop application, visit www.ashford.gov.uk and search for the 18/01840/AS application