Owners of a leisure destination in Woodham Walter are making another attempt to build a multi-million pound holiday park in the village, after they were refused planning permission earlier this year.

The Warren Golf and Country Club has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after Maldon District Council rejected the company's bid in February to build 70 lodges as part of a new holiday park on its grounds.

The plans include building a family holiday park of 50 lodges, called Warren Lodges North, and a holiday park of 20 lodges for adults only, to be known as Wayside Retreat, in a secluded field surrounded by woodland on the site.

The application also proposes an extended bar/grill area for the existing Bunsay Clubhouse on the estate and a new state-of-the-art golf academy for visitors.

The £7 million holiday park would offer activity-based short breaks to guests similar to the Center Parcs model, and would create 97 full-time jobs across Maldon, Chelmsford and Colchester.

There are already 102 lodges on the site, alongside two golf clubs, a wedding venue and a health club.

In a statement submitted with the plans, agent Clive Simpson said the park would be "a sustainable, practical and visually appealing holiday and golf destination, with a level of comfort and specification which draws visitors from across the UK and beyond".

In a further statement, he said: "Particular consideration has been given to the high value landscape setting of the development with only two trees identified for removal.

"Over 100 new trees will be planted and a range of ecology and biodiversity improvements undertaken to enhance the setting."

He said the development would boost the local economy by a net total of £3.9 million a year.

Councillors, however, said the impact of the development on its rural location would outweigh its benefits in terms of employment and revenue.

Councillor Karl Jarvis said: "This would have a huge impact on Woodham Walter, a village that's very much a rural village.

"Whether they've got the Center Parcs facilities is really questionable. Where are the occupants of the lodges then going to go?"

The plans have also received 194 letters of objection from residents.

One objector, who has lived in Woodham Walter for 30 years, said: "The proposed development will totally swamp the existing delicate infrastructure of the village."

Another resident said it would bring "increased noise, disturbance and traffic on narrow, twisting country lanes".

Woodham Walter Parish Council also recommended the application for refusal.

A planning inspector will now make a decision on the appeal following a hearing, which has yet to be set a date and location.