Plans for a new hotel and higher education facilities at the home of Barnet Football Club will be reassessed after Harrow Council’s planning committee voted against recommendations to refuse them.

Committee chairman Cllr Keith Ferry, who is responsible for regeneration, planning and employment at Harrow Council, used his casting vote to ensure the application at The Hive, in Camrose Avenue, Edgware, is revisited.

This is despite council planning officers recommending the committee refuse the application on the grounds that its height and design would be unsuitable for the area.

There were also concerns around a lack of acceptable flood risk assessment and travel plan, while officers said it was at odds with a space designed for community outdoor sports.

Cllr Marilyn Ashton, Harrow Conservatives’ planning spokesman, described the application as “vexatious” and said it was “unusual” to see officers put forward so many reasons for refusal.

“There is absolutely no way this is anything but a non-starter,” she said.

“To give Barnet FC credit, they’ve made a very good job of bringing this area back to life and the people of Harrow opportunities they never would have had without the investment.

“But the ambition has gone a little bit over the tip now and we’ve ended up with this very inappropriate application that doesn’t comply with (planning) policies.”

She added she believes the Greater London Authority, which would need to approve such a development, is likely to refuse it in any case.

The applicant hopes to develop a four-storey building at the site, which would house a hotel, medical facilities, student accommodation and a sporting higher education centre.

Sean McGrath, representing the applicant Football First, said it was “sensible” for people hoping to work in football to learn at a stadium – similar to set-ups at Wembley, Manchester City, and Burnley.

He added the prospect of a hotel would be attractive to supporters, summer camp attendees, and international teams who could train at the venue.

“There are good reasons for the facilities to be at The Hive, and not a single blade of grass will be lost,” he said.

“I appreciate this is a major scheme, but there have only been three objections and there are significant benefits that will accrue.”

Cllr Ferry suggested these aspects outweigh any potential harm at the site, so much so that they were enough to go against the officers’ recommendations.

He was supported by his Labour colleagues Cllr Simon Brown and Cllr Peymana Assad, while Cllr Christine Robson abstained on the issue.

Conservative councillors Ashton, Anjana Patel and Christopher Baxter agreed with the officers’ points but were ultimately outvoted due to Cllr Ferry’s casting vote.

The application will now be brought back to the council’s planning committee at a later date for a further assessment.