Residents in Green Lane, Trowbridge, are fearful that an application to renovate a former care home could lead to a bail hostel opening on their doorstep.

They are concerned about plans, submitted by EOA Properties Limited to Wiltshire Council, to convert the former Greenwood House into six flats and an office.

Following a lack of consultation from the firm, based in Northampton, residents researched the submission and found that applicant Leo O’Conner is a director of Maplyn Care Services.

The company offers placements of up to two years for offenders who are spared criminal sentences and people with mental health conditions.

Richard Hall, who lives in Green Lane with his partner Kate Drew and their children; Jasmine, 12, Tom, 10, and Emilia, eight, said: “We feel we have been deceived by the people who have put the application in, as everything feels like it has been deliberately done under a cloud.

“All the residents are fearful of what is coming and wondering why there has not been a significant public liaison with us.”

Residents have put banners up around the property against it becoming one of Maplyn’s centres and contacted their Wiltshire Councillor Dennis Drewett and MP Andrew Murrison about the plans.

Cllr Drewett said: “If the planning application is as put forward for flats then I cannot see any issue with it, but there are a few connections which suggest there could be an ulterior motive.

“If Wiltshire Council’s officers recommend it for approval I have requested the application goes to the planning committee meeting so residents can have their say.”

The deadline for comments on the application passed on Wednesday and Wiltshire Council has written to the applicant asking for more details about their proposals.

Darren Allen, of Datum CAD Services Ltd, the agent representing the applicant, said: “We cannot comment on the plans at the moment.”