Divisive plans to build 121 holiday homes on a former golf course have been approved.

The outline application to build a wellbeing and leisure facility at Foxbridge Golf Club, in Foxbridge Lane, Plaistow, was opposed by more than 180 people, as well as four parish councils, but was given the nod by Chichester District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (April 15).

Submitted by The Substantia Group, the plans also received a similar number of letters of support from members of the public.

As well as the holiday homes, the development will include the building of a spa and hotel with up to 50 bedrooms, the conversion of the former clubhouse into a restaurant and farm shop, and the formation of a new vehicular access from Foxbridge Lane. Five passing points will be added to the lane and part of it will be widened.

Objecting to the plans, Sophie Capsey, vice-chairwoman of Plaistow and Ifold Parish Council, pointed out that the recently adopted Local Plan indicated that large-scale tourism developments in the countryside would only be allowed if there was an “overriding and compelling justification”.

Describing the benefits of the development as “over-stated”, she added: “This is a site of convenience or opportunity, not need. Overnight accommodation that will serve the city of Chichester can be and should be in or adjacent to Chichester.”

The site is 22 miles from the city centre. The golf club closed in 2017 and the land has been unused since.

Resident David Jordan agreed with Mrs Capsey, adding that the scale of the development and the amount of traffic it would generate was “inappropriate for this rural area”.

A report to the committee said the new use would generate 667 two‑way vehicle trips on week days and 737 per day at the weekend. This compares to 497 and 548 respectively when the golf club was open.

Speaking in support of the plans, businessman Fergus Elder said the development would give “new life” to an already established leisure site.

He added: “It is already hard enough for young people to find work, especially locally. If we want young families to stay and build lives here, we need to create opportunities for them. Without that, villages like ours gradually weaken.

“We cannot afford to let a ‘not on my doorstep’ attitude prevent positive change.”

Once operational, the site will create 114 jobs, with another 179 jobs during the construction phase.

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A number of councillors shared concerns about traffic along such a narrow road – but, as West Sussex Highways had not objected to the plans, the council would have been sure to lose on appeal had they refused the application.

Following a lengthy debate, Conservative councillor for Goodwood Henry Potter proposed the application be refused on the grounds that the access would be unsuitable for a development of such a size and the volume of traffic it would generate.

But officers said to do so would be seen as “unreasonable behaviour” and the proposal was lost by four votes to five.

A second proposal from Conservative councillor for Fernhurst Brett Burkhart that the application did not meet the threshold for overriding and compelling need, received no support.

The plans were approved by five votes to four.

To view the application, log on to publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk and search for 22/02346/OUT.