A former care home building shut down after a spate of incidents involving mistreatment of residents could be converted back into a house, or even an Airbnb.

Cranmore and Stepping Stones, both based at the same building in New Romney, provided care to six and four adults with complex needs respectively.

But they were shut down following a damning report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which found residents were unlawfully restrained, locked out of kitchens and given no access to toilet paper.

Now the property's owners, a firm called Flarepath Limited, is seeking permission to convert the site in Church Road back into a residential dwelling.

The original part of the building, which housed Cranmore, has six bedrooms, lounge, dining room, conservatory and kitchen.

Stepping Stones was built to the side of Cranmore and is a four bedroom property with its own private access comprising of lounge, kitchen/diner and bathroom downstairs with four en-suite bedrooms upstairs.

The building, known simply by the name Cranmore, was previously a single-family home until 2006.

Documents submitted in support of the planning application for a change of use reveal how the care home was closed down following a CQC inspection which uncovered a catalogue of failings.

The property was last used as a care home in June 2021 and - after residents were rehoused elsewhere - it has been unoccupied ever since.

It is currently listed on property site Rightmove for sale at auction with a guide price of £600,000.

A comment from Rightmove reads: "This versatile six bedroom detached property (plus a further four bedrooms) which in recent years has been a C2 commercial care home has potential for redevelopment on this 0.14 acre plot, (subject to planning permission); for conversion back to residential use for a purchaser looking for a spacious home for their extended family or for residential plus a home office with potential to be redeveloped or to be used as its existing usage.

"The opportunity to convert for use as Airbnb, holiday lettings or guest house are also possibilities."

CQC inspectors has uncovered a negative culture at the care homes, which placed people at risk of psychological abuse, and it was said "staff lacked the understanding, skills and knowledge to support people with learning disabilities and complex needs".

Staff treated those in their care "like children" and failed to give them the choice and control over their lives.

Speaking at the time of the report, Deborah Ivanova, deputy chief inspector for people with a learning disability and autistic people, said: "The reports for Stepping Stones and Cranmore make for distressing reading.

"Clearly neither service is meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture or providing people with safe care.

"People with learning disabilities and autistic people have the right to support that meets their needs and enables them to live their best lives."