Council officers had recommended the application be refused with a report saying it would “result in the regrettable loss” of the golf centre and, by extension, create a “significant deficit” in recreational provision in the district.
The report also said the loss of green space was “considered to be inherently harmful”, and proposals to relocate existing businesses based at the centre, including a dance school, gym, taxi rank, boutique and beauty salon, were not adequate.
Planning committee chairman Lee Breckon said: “Refusing a planning application is a decision we do not take lightly.
“We have a responsibility to ensure a sufficient housing supply and under national guidelines are generally required to approve new schemes.
“However, in this case we agreed with officers that the scheme would be harmful to the local area rather than beneficial.
“Our main concerns were the loss of Green Wedge as well as the loss of premises for several small businesses in the local area. We felt the overall harms posed by the scheme were strong enough for us to reject the application.”
