Last Wednesday afternoon, Bath and North East Somerset Council's Development Control Committee voted to refuse a planning application to build a new housing estate in Peasedown St John, contrary to the recommendation of their Planning Officers.
Commenting on the decision, Petra Schofield, spokesperson for community group, Residents Protecting Peasedown, said: "We are delighted that the committee has rejected this proposal. It's a victory for common sense. We are pleased that members of the committee listened not only to the technical arguments we put forward, but also the overwhelming public opposition to this plan. We hope that their decision will ensure that this much-loved green space is now protected against development for generations to come.
"We would like to thank all of the local residents, our two local Lib-Dem Councillors, Nathan Hartley and Sarah Bevan, members of Peasedown Parish Council, the local doctors' surgery and members of neighbouring Parish Councils, Dunkerton and Camerton, all of whom voiced their opposition to this new housing estate."
The local community raised money to hire an expert planning consultant, who also spoke on their behalf at the meeting.
Bristol-based housebuilder, Edward Ware Homes Ltd, wanted to build 89 new homes on Greenland's Field, which is less than three football pitches in size, on a steeply sloping hill and linked to the village high street by narrow roads.
More than 950 villagers signed a petition against the proposal. Some 210 people sent written objections to the Council.
Members of the Development Control Committee voted as follows: seven against the proposal, three for and three abstentions.
Edward Ware Homes Ltd will now have six months in which to decide whether or not to appeal against the Council's decision. Any appeal will effectively be decided by an Independent Inspector, who may give considerable weight to the original recommendation from B&NES Planning Officers.