Neighbours say plans to build a four-storey hotel on their doorsteps will turn their quiet street into a “commercial playground”.

People living in Renters Avenue, Brent Cross, say they were not informed that proposals to build the tower block directly opposite their street, in Haley Road, had been approved – despite voicing objections.

Although it was formally granted planning permission in 2012, developer Honeyglen Properties began work on the 62-bedroom hotel earlier this month.

But Padma Varsani and her children, Trushna Panchal and Anil Varsani, are furious about the plans as they say it is not “in keeping” with the character of their road.

They say they will be most affected by the building as it will severely block light into their front rooms.

Mrs Varsani, who has lived in the house for 35 years, said: “At the moment we’ve got a lovely amber glow that shines into our houses whenever the sun is out, but we’ll be plunged into darkness when the work is finished.

“I feel depressed, frustrated and frightened about what this might mean for our future. It will probably reduce the value of my house.

“Who wants a hotel on their front doorstep? It’s a quiet, residential area and always has been. We love living here, and this is absolutely not the right place for it.”

Householders also fear the hotel will have a bar and a function room, with potential for fights between drunk and rowdy party-goers and music well into the early hours.

Hansa Kanbi, who has a two-year-old daughter, and has lived in the street with her husband for eight years, said: “It’s going to invade my privacy, with holidaymakers and people always in my road.

“It’s going to plunge my whole house into darkness as the hotel is going to totally restrict my light.”

The hotel will include underground parking, but many fear it will fear it will clog up their road with guests vying for spaces.

Trashul Patel, who has lived in the street for 25 years, said: “This has created a barrage of uncertainty for us. “It’s going to be disastrous. We are irritated. This is commercial chaos. We are frightened that our street is becoming a commercial playground.

“Parking is going to be a total nightmare. It’s bad enough as it is with us not being able to find parking but this will make it worse.”

The neighbours also say that when building work began earlier this year, a water pipe burst and the whole street was flooded.

People had to wade through sludge to get back to their homes and the safety lights in the underpass in Haley Road went out.

Trushna Varsani said: “Everything that could go wrong so far has gone wrong. We just don’t know what to do anymore.”

The Times Series has attempted to contact Honeyglen Properties Ltd for a comment.