A GOLF course in the Essex countryside will be turned into 18 new homes, despite warnings over urban sprawl and sustainability.

Voting against officer recommendations on October 5, members of Maldon Council’s North Western Area Planning Committee approved the outline application for a residential development in Woodham Mortimer Golf Range.

Supporters said current the business was unviable and inappropriate for neighbouring properties, with reports of golf balls being hit through neighbours’ windows.

But officers warned a residential development at the site would be heavily reliant on cars, represent a sprawl of development into the countryside and result in the loss of a community facility and tourist attraction.

Planning agent Antony OToole told the committee officers had downplayed the sustainability of the site.

He also said the viability of the business was dwindling amid “skyrocketing” costs and its current use was detrimental for neighbours.

Mr OToole said: “The site is no longer fit for use. In fact, a golf ball went through a neighbour’s window this weekend.”

Conservative councillor for Wickham Bishops and Woodham Mark Durham said: “This is a very old driving range and it fundamentally is just too short, so that is why balls are going over the existing fence.”

He later said: “I’m afraid the times have caught up with this as a viable driving range.”

Mr Durham also said the parish council and local residents were in support of the scheme.

But council officers at the meeting said going against policy to approve the scheme would affect its ability to fight appeals in the future, because it would set a benchmark of sustainability across the whole district.

Planning services manager Matthew Leigh told councillors it would be “ridiculously dangerous” to go against these policies.

Agreeing with officers, independent councillor for Tollesbury Emma Stephens said: “We’ve got the experts sitting here in this room advising us and I just think it’s appalling if we then simply ignore them and I would urge people to listen to what our experts are saying to us.”

Two other applications for developments of 25 houses and eight houses in the site have previously been refused by the council, according to a report.