Ambitious proposals to build a luxury spa and more than double the number of rooms at a hotel and golf resort have been submitted.

Bosses hope more space for guests and extra facilities at Broome Park in Barham, near Canterbury, will boost the business’ fortune.

Alongside two plush treehouses and five holiday lodges, owners Summit Developments want to construct a new hotel building and transform the existing golf shop to offer 29 more rooms between them, bringing the total to 51.

Documents lodged with Canterbury City Council (CCC) show hopes for a fresh golf clubhouse and staff accomodation by refurbishing an underutilised squash court.

But the showstopper will be a spa, which will boast five treatment rooms, a bar and kitchen, lounge areas and a terrace overlooking a natural swimming pool.

In papers submitted to CCC, bosses behind the scheme say they are the “latest in a long line of owners” who have found it difficult to make a success of the estate.

“At its core, the proposed development seeks the enhancement of an existing tourist facility and visitor accommodation complex,” Summit argues.

“The reason for exploring opportunities for improvement and expansion at Broome Park is because of the existing loss-making business scenario and a long-standing failure by previous owners to create a viable and self-sustaining business.

“There has also been a chronic lack of investment and maintenance, which has led to a general deterioration of many aspects of the estate.”

As reported by KentOnline in April, the owners originally only wanted 12 extra rooms while building 14 holiday lodges, but the focus has now shifted to more of the former.

The accommodation building would take up unused land to the north of the main gardens, and host 17 of the 29 new rooms.

The remaining 12 will be built in the old golf shop, while the two treehouses will be accessed via a bridge and offer fire pits and wrap-around decking areas.

There are also hopes of restoring a Grade II-listed 1900s Italian garden that has “fallen into ruin”, at a cost of £1 million.

But in order to fund the huge scheme, a development of 14 homes is proposed in a secluded area of the grounds, which also hosts the golf course.

While those plans have yet to be submitted, it expected they will form the second half of the project.

It is hoped the extra accommodation alongside the new facilities will complement the 18-hole course and driving range, as well as the existing 11 lodges.

Broome Park was built in 1638 and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Carolean architecture in England.

The estate was requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence and used as a military hospital in the Second World War.

The garden was designed by then-owner Lord Kitchener, who was secretary of state for war from 1914-1916, and featured on the famous ‘Britons, Lord Kitchener Wants You’ army recruitment posters.

In the 1970s the estate was used as a timeshare for visiting Americans and other tourists.