PLANS for a £7million holiday park development in Woodham Walter have been submitted to Maldon District Council.

The plans for the Warren Estate are for a total of 70 new holiday lodges at the site, which is situated in the village between Chelmsford and Maldon. Fifty of the new lodges will be for families and offer activity breaks, while the other 20 will be for adults only and offer short breaks.

The estate's existing two golf clubs, lodge park, wedding venue and health club already welcome more than 200,000 visitors each year, but the new development would boost the local economy by an additional £4million a year and provide dozens of new jobs.

The Warren Estate is looking to partner up with Hoseasons for marketing and booking for the family-orientated lodges, to be called Warren Lodges North, using the holiday company's GO ACTIVE brand. This is aimed at families who wish to get out and explore the local area while enjoying various indoor and outdoor activities.

The 20-lodge section of the proposed development will be called The Wayside Retreat, with luxury lodges aimed at adults only and screened by the surrounding woodland.

The existing Bunsay Clubhouse at the golf club will be upgraded under the plans, with an extended bar and grill plus outdoor terrace, new children's soft play area and activities hall – to serve both holiday park residents and the local community. The plans for the clubhouse will keep to its existing footprint.

A New Golf Academy is planned on the estate

A new gold golf academy single/part two-storey building is also part of the plans. It would be home to a golf academy offering specialist teaching and custom fit bays, classroom, putting studio, waiting area and six additional practice bays.

The estate intends to maintain a full memberships and daily play offer at the club – the 18-hole golf course at The Warren is unaffected by the proposed development.

Essex County Council welcomes the proposals

Essex County Council's head of tourism, Lisa Bone, has welcomed the proposals.

She said: "I believe a large-scale development such as this is much needed in the county and would be a great asset to both Maldon and the whole of Essex."

She added: "There is a real gap in the market in Essex for a rural, experiential holiday village like this. It would offer a great facility to the local population and could provide great educational experiences."

John Moran, Managing Director of the Warren Estate, said: "In these difficult times it is devastating how many jobs are being lost – we have recently submitted a planning application to try and create a multi-million pound annual boost to the Essex economy and create hundreds of new jobs.

"The tourism and hospitality industry has been so badly affected that we sincerely hope that our local council planning and councillors look upon our ambitions to stimulate the district positively and support our application."

Maldon District Council has not yet set a date for the application to be heard at committee.