It may not be par for the course thinking but planners behind a controversial new 10,000-home town have considered golf buggies as a way for residents to get around.

Mayfield Market Towns clubbed together for the round-about plan to use the 35mph electronic buggies in a bid to discourage car use and make its new town more sustainable.

The developer said it also considered other unorthodox irons in the fire such as a monorail or tram system before holing out for more conventional options such as bus services and park and ride.

Mayfield director Lee Newlyn, speaking at a seminar in Brighton earlier this month, said the firm had considered replicating an American model where electronic golf carts capable of travelling at up to 35mph could be used by residents along separate tracks to Burgess Hill station up to seven miles away.

However, Mr Newlyn conceded the system was probably best suited to a hotter climate than Sussex’s.

He told The Association of Women in Property seminar they “were not building cars out of the model” but providing other services as a superior alternative.

The proposed multi-million-pound project between Sayers Common and Henfield would create a new home for up to 30,000 people and take up to 17 years to build.

Anthony Watts Williams, founder of campaign group Locals Against Mayfield Building Sprawl, said: “The whole thing is a madcap scheme, driven by greed.

“We are not anti-development, but houses need to be built in the right places for our children’s and country’s future, not just a few people’s short term gain.”

A Mayfield Market Towns spokeswoman said it had explored a variety of suggestions ranging from golf buggies to monorails to trams for “innovative new ways” transport over the next 20 to 50 years.

She said: “Obviously as part of our sustainable agenda, we welcome any suggestions on ideas which help get people out of their cars.

“However, our current transport proposals are for a new Park and Ride at the Hickstead junction and high quality bus services to Burgess Hill and Horsham.”

She added following recent decisions by Government planning inspectors to send back development plans in Mid Sussex and Brighton, the Mayfield team had reiterated their offer to meet local councils to discuss how a new market town might help deliver housing in their areas.