A major expansion of the Belfry hotel and golf resort which includes a water park has moved a step closer after local councillors backed the project.

North Warwickshire Borough Council's planning committee backed the proposals 'in principle' and it will now go to the secretary of state for final approval.

The redevelopment includes a new indoor pool, water park and additional hotel rooms at the venue near Sutton Coldfield but will see an end to the Bel Air nightclub which will be converted into a luxury spa.

A date for its closure will not be announced until after the final hurdle has been cleared with the Government.

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There will also be a new 500-seat conference facility, which will be able to hold up to 700 guests for banqueting and ballroom functions, and an additional 112 hotel bedrooms, 40 of which will be connected to the spa to operated by leisure firm Espa.

Councillors have backed redevelopment of The Belfry
Councillors have backed redevelopment of The Belfry

The venue, famous for hosting the Ryder Cup golf tournament, currently has 320 bedrooms and the redevelopment is expected to create 100 new jobs.

Other existing facilities include restaurants, a spa, leisure and fitness club and meeting space.

The water park will be designed by WTI which is behind several similar developments in the US, Europe and Australia including at a hotel on the Alton Towers leisure park in Staffordshire.

The Bel Air nightclub was the scene of a New Year's Eve stabbing two years ago.

Ian Kettlewell, a director at planning consultancy Lichfields which worked on the proposal on behalf of KSL Capital Partners, said: "We are pleased with the outcome and the support the application has received from North Warwickshire Borough Council and the local community."

Last year, The Belfry won the overall company of the year title at the Birmingham Post Business Awards.