Additional reporting by Joe Crossley.

Owners of a huge holiday park have unveiled plans to replace it with hundreds of new homes and oust “illegal” occupants.

Hundreds of caravan users, many of which are said to be living all-year round in breach of the rules, off a site in Warden Road in Eastchurch, Sheppey could be asked to leave.

Kent Holdco Ltd, who are the owners, want to build around 430 permanent homes there and regenerate the seaside getaway to create a “more diverse mix of uses” - including adding retirement apartments.

This would also involve scaling down the holiday park.

But it’s led some to fear about the “future of their caravans” having spent lots of money on them, amid fears it could also create a "housing crisis" for those “displaced”.

However, LT Management, which manages the sites, say they have “grave concerns” about on-site safety owing to the conditions of some of the dated caravans.

They also claim hundreds of users are living there all year-round “illegally” in breach of the rules.

Known as Kent Parks, the site brings together the caravan parks known as Shurland Dale, Elmhurst, Sunnymead One, Sunnymead Two, Pleasant View, Cliff Cottages, Eastchurch Chalet Park, and Brookside Leisure Park.

So far documents have only been submitted to Swale council requesting a ‘screening opinion’ from the authority.

This advises whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required to be submitted with a future planning application or not.

According to the planning documents, the proposed development includes the “comprehensive redevelopment of the caravan park site to replace all existing properties and deliver a residential-led mixed-use regeneration project with a more diverse mix of uses.”

It is anticipated that this would include the development of around 430 residential park homes, the retention of a smaller area of holiday park use, and care/retirement/assisted living apartments.

There would also be a neighbourhood centre, bus facilities, landscaping, drainage facilities, car parking, access roads and habitat enhancement areas.

However, since the plans were submitted last week, several objections have already been lodged.

One caravan owner on Shurland Dale holiday park said they hadn’t been given any notice and were worried about the “future of our caravans” and would like more information and to be able to object.

Another added: “It's a holiday park for families and people have spent lots of money - to be kicked off should not be allowed.”

Grandad of six, Adrian Froome, who has been living on Sunnymead Two for 30 years, told KentOnline he doesn’t want to leave.

The former builder, 69, added: “It is in our contract that they have the right to move caravans on, so we couldn't do anything about it if they said we have to go.

“But people don't know what's going to happen, and there are a lot of rumours.

“I would not be happy if I were forced to leave. I like living here because the people are nice."

Former Morrisons florist, Dawn, who did not want to give her second name, says part of the issue is the way it’s been communicated.

“A lot of people were upset about it," the 66-year-old added. “I think it's because they found out on Facebook rather than from the company.

“Plus, there were rumours that they could lose their caravans if they regenerate.

"They need to keep people informed.”

One 74-year-old resident who has lived on Sunnymead One for the past ten years, said the park needs investment but he’d be “gutted” if he had to leave.

He added: "It has become dilapidated over the last few years so it needs the work but they do not need to kick us off.

"But I have made my life here and I love it here, so I would be gutted if I was told to leave.

"If I were told to go, I would have to try and find somewhere else and pay around £1,800 to move my caravan, which is six years old.

"That expense should not fall on us."

However, a spokesperson for LT Management, which manages the sites, explained under the current building safety regulations governing caravan parks, the vast majority of the existing caravans are not designed for permanent residential use.

In the UK it is illegal to live on a holiday park in a caravan permanently without a primary residence elsewhere.

The management firm says there are more than 400 people occupying in excess of 200 caravans across the eight parks and are doing so on a “permanent residential basis”.

The spokesperson continued: “There are grave concerns as to the quality and safety of these privately owned caravans due to age and poor maintenance, therefore the accommodation that is being used illegally is not fit for purpose.

“This is unfortunately perpetuating a number of social problems and giving rise to a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of many of the people who choose to live there.”

In July, the firm put in a ‘section 73’ planning application, which if approved would make it so that permanent residence on the site is not a planning breach, giving residents time to make alternative arrangements.

“The alternative would leave them at risk of being immediately displaced, which would thereby create knock on problems of homelessness for potentially hundreds of people on site,” the spokesperson added.

If the plans for redevelopment of the whole park are to be approved, residents will have to move their caravans and the the holiday park will be retained on what is currently the Shurland Dale park.

But the management firm says existing residents will get the chance to relocate to the new site if they have the ability.

Cllr Tara Noe (Con), who represents the area on Swale council, said: “We need more manageable homes for the elderly, we need more care beds and assisted living apartments, and we need a bus route, but it remains to be seen whether the benefits will outweigh the cost.

“A lot of people will be affected by this, including current users of the park, and those in the local area.”

She added that the future development plans would bring “a huge change to the local population”.

“Where are all of these new residents, with potentially complex needs going to get healthcare? The surgery in Eastchurch closed,” she added.

“A lot more work is needed here to explain how the needs of this retirement community will be met without creating undue burden on local services, and without creating a housing crisis for those displaced.”

A full planning application is expected to be submitted early next year following consultation with residents.