A plan to transform the Langdon Hills Golf Club into a major new golfing academy and care home could be thrown out by the council following a recommendation from the planning team.

The redevelopment of the Langdon Hills Golf and Country Club, on Lower Dunton Road, would see the creation of a new golfing academy, along with a ‘health village’ comprised of a 64-bed care home with dementia facilities, apartments for independent living, and homes for care workers.

But council officers have called the ambitious plans “inappropriate” and said they would result in “isolated” care facilities that are distanced from crucial support services.

They have recommended that planning permission is refused when the plans are discussed next week.

In council documents, the planning team have heavily criticised the plans, in particular the idea of a new 'care village' for people over the age of 55 including a care home, 84 supported living bungalows and 42 independent living apartments.

A report said: “The proposal would create an isolated health-led community use at a site that is located in an unsustainable location, distant from community services, essential support facilities and a choice of transport modes.

“As such the proposal would represent an unsustainable form of development in an unsustainable location.”

It goes on to criticise the plans for “the remoteness, distance and access to on site facilities”, as well as the “the lack of information to understand the affordability of the development and how this development would be affordable to the people of Thurrock, the lack of information to demonstrate a local need for the type and scale of accommodation proposed and the need to provide elderly care accommodation at a golf course”.

Another major change is the replacement of the existing club house with a new building on the site of the hotel.

It would include a health spa, reception area, restaurants, bars, gym and a swimming pool.

Nearby, would be a new golf academy complete with driving range, tuition area and function space for 150 people.

The rest of the site would be comprised of an 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole golf course.

But council officers said: “It is considered that the overall layout of the development is too segregated for its intended use, in particular the health-led community village would rely on the clubhouse facility for accessing its facilities but those facilities are distant from the extra care homes and apartments and an elderly person would struggle to walk the distance to use the facilities which gives rise to likelihood of on-site vehicle activity.”

They add: “It would be difficult for future residents and users of the site to access the site and the wider area through alternative sustainable transport modes such as walking, cycling and public transport.”

A decision on the planning application will be made at a planning meeting on Thursday night.