MAJOR expansion plans for ‘one of the jewels in Cheshire East’s leisure and tourism crown’ have won unanimous backing.

The Mere Golf Resort and Spa’s plans include additional bedrooms, conferencing and clubhouse floorspace, extending the stable block (spa) to provide extra leisure and spa facilities, creating a tennis hut and golf starter hut and offering more parking.

The scheme includes extending the main hotel to provide an additional 64 bedrooms, 41 of which would be in the new extension, giving the hotel a total of 145 bedrooms.

There are 325 parking spaces on site, and the plans, following amendments, propose an additional 49 spaces.

The plans were unanimously supported by members of the Cheshire East northern planning committee.

Cllr Deborah Walker, chairman of Mere Parish Council, told the meeting: “The Mere has a high-quality reputation and is set to enhance its offering and reputation. Having a successful business in the heart of the local community is vital.

“A further attraction to this development at this stage of the economic recovery, given the far-reaching effects of the coronavirus pandemic, is the creation of jobs, particularly in the hospitality sector, which has been one of the hardest hit.”

She said parking had been one of the parish council’s main concerns, but the issue had been addressed by The Mere.

“Overall we view the development as a benefit, and welcome the investment they are prepared to make.”

The agent for The Mere said the application was a vitally important application for the resort, and the social and economic benefits of the scheme outweighed any harm to the green belt.

He said: “The Mere resort is one of the jewels in Cheshire East’s leisure and tourism crown. It is an award-winning venue run to the highest of standards.

“The Mere wants to develop further its excellent reputation by helping to attract and host larger and more lucrative conferences, including for the life sciences sector.”

The scheme would create 60 full-time equivalent jobs, he said, and a further 30 through the supply chain.

Cllr Brendan Murphy said: “This is the kind of development we need to push as fast as we can to help in securing the recovery of the economy in Cheshire East.

“It’s a good business proposition, which is going to attract people.”

The application will be referred to the Secretary of State for a final decision.