Plans for 60 leisure lodges on a Rutland golf course will come before councillors next week.

The move follows businessman Chris Riddle, who with his father Colin bought the 185 acre Woolfox Golf and Country Club, buying the site last year with the aim of redeveloping it.

Plans were submitted to Rutland County Council earlier this year concerning the former Rutland County Golf Club at Hardwick Farm Lane, Empingham, earlier this year.

In addition to the leisure lodges for occupation on a noncontinuous basis, the application also includes the renovation and conversion of existing barns to form a leisure suite including gym, swimming pool and ancillary spaces including staff accommodation, renovation and alteration of the existing Clubhouse.

There would also be alterations to the grounds including changes to the golf course and construction of lakes for leisure and ecological purposes.

If approved, the Lodges would be set around 2 of 4 interlinked lakes with extensive landscaping between. Materials for the lodges would be local stone, timber cladding, glazing, grass, sedum and cedar shingle roofs and sloping grass banks. Charging for electric vehicles is proposed on site

The application states that existing employment levels at the site are 16 full time and 3 par time employees (17 full time equivalents). The proposal would generate 52 full time jobs and 22 part time jobs (63 FTE).

A report prepared by Rutland Council planning staff says Empingham Parish Council "appreciates this bold proposal to diversify by creating leisure accommodation and facilities whilst retaining golf facilities and professional golf staff."

The council said: "The situation in respect of demand for golf facilities has changed over the last year.

"As stated in the application there are several golf courses in the area but all now have waiting lists for membership indicating demand exceeds supply.

"The golf facility is a community resource currently appreciated and enjoyed by Rutlanders as well as other local residents. There seems no reason, commercial or otherwise, to withdraw public access to the reduced golf course as indicated in the application.

"This might be (mis)construed as discrimination. EPC therefore suggests that RCC and the owners might wish to clarify that the golf course, reduced course, and golf facilities would continue to be available to local residents."

Stretton Parish Council said it supported the development "on the basis of ecological development, employment opportunities and leisure facilities."

However, residents of four private dwellings located withing the centre of the site, raised concerns about 'being faced with a housing estate' and impacts from the residents of the lodges on traffic, noise and wildlife.

However, the reported said the site is in a relatively isolated location with good access directly off the A1, will not impact on local villages.

"There are policies in the Development Plan that support the scheme and some that may suggest otherwise. The scheme has been amended to reduce impact on local residents and would ensure the continued use of the site for a tourism/recreation facility whilst benefitting the wider local economy. Taking all issues into account it is recommended that permission be granted."

Their report further concluded: "The site is in an arguably unsustainable location. The existing golf course was failing and has been taken over with a view to making a significant investment to provide what appears to be a high quality tourism destination.

"The access is convenient off the A1 without pulling traffic through local villages.

"There is scope to visit nearby tourist locations and the scheme will create a significant increase in employment over the existing use. The impact on residents is such that refusal would be difficult to justify, there is minimal visual intrusion with capacity for major new landscaping works. The scheme will provide support for sustainable transport.

"Overall, the benefits outweigh the negative issues which mainly surround the location and whether it is sustainable."