Outline plans for a 179-bed £55m hotel next to Strive Health Club in St Peter have been rejected by the Planning Committee.

The group of politicians – who rule on larger and more controversial planning applications – voted by four votes to three to back a recommendation of the Planning Department that the application from Strive should not be approved.

The primary reason was the scale and mass of the proposed stepped building, which would be 22.1m high at its highest point.

A packed meeting room at the Government’s Union Street headquarters was filled with supporters of the privately funded scheme, and no one spoke out against the application.

However, the majority of the committee judged that the project – which has the support of several major international hotel chains – went against too many policies of the Bridging Island Plan, the rulebook against which all planning decisions are assessed.

Although planned to be built on an existing car park, the proposed hotel, which included a 628-seat conference centre, spa and swimming, is in the green zone, which has a higher bar for development than the built-up area, as defined in the Bridging Island Plan.

Speaking at the meeting in favour of the hotel, Strive managing director Ben Harvey said the health centre had put Jersey on the global map following visits from the Springboks, Lions and England rugby teams.

He added that Liverpool FC wanted to visit, but only if there was better accommodation nearby, which this application provided.

Mr Harvey said that the size and scale of the building was dictated by the international chains who were prepared to invest in Jersey.

He added: “This is not a brave leap of faith. This application puts Jersey on the map for all the right reasons and it would be catastrophic for the island and its businesses should it be refused.”

However, the committee voted to maintain Planning’s recommendation to refuse.

Those supporting this view were panel chair Constable Philip Le Sueur, vice-chair Deputy Alex Curtis, Constable Richard Honeycombe and Deputy Tom Coles.

Those voting for the outline plans to be approved were Constables Kevin Lewis and Mark Labey, and Deputy Steve Ahier.

During the same meeting today, the committee approved an application by gallery-owner Lance Trevellyan to turn the former Millbrook House Hotel into a five-star art-themed venue.

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