Residents and community leaders have welcomed the decision to reject plans that would have seen 55 more homes built on a green field on the edge of Church Road, in Peasedown St John.

Strategic Placement LLP applied to build the homes on a field to the north of the village, which would have resulted in more vehicles on narrow country lanes and an increase in people using the village's already over-stretched amenities and services.

Cllr Karen Walker, Chairman of the Parish Council's Planning and Environment Committee, believes common sense has prevailed: "There were so many reasons to object to this application, from the negative impact it would have on the open environment, to the problems it would cause for those trying to access Church Road from Bath Road.

At our planning meeting in July, Parish Councillors voted against this application after debating a wide range of issues. The sheer number of objections from residents and interested parties has shown that people power has prevailed, on this occasion."

The B&NES refusal dec sion notes that the homes would be outside the housing development boundary and highlights that both the flood risk assessment and ecology assessment do not demonstrate that harm would not be caused by the development going ahead.

B&NES Councillor for Peasedown St John and Carlingcott, Nathan Hartley, has been heavily involved in the campaign against the development. He added: "When I saw the plans for this application, I didn't think twice in lobbying for this decision. A high number of people from across the community contacted me with their concerns about the negative impact these homes would bring to our community.

"To be clear, I and the residents of Peasedown are not opposed to new houses entirely. What we reject are the continual attempts to build more houses without the amenities and services needed to accompany them."

Behind the campaign has been Residents Protecting Peasedown – the campaign group set up in 2012 to fight unsustainable development. Group spokesperson, Petra Schofield, said: "Residents Protecting Peasedown is happy that the newly implemented Core Strategy has been upheld and this planning application has been refused. It was clear from the early consultation stage that there were issues surrounding the site that made it unsuitable for any form of development. The residents showed their disapproval in many letters of objection and support at various meetings and it is a good day for the community of Church Road.

"However, it still leaves the village facing a huge unsustainable development outside of the housing development boundary (89 homes at Greenlands Road, allowed after appeal) due to the failure of B&NES Council, over the years, to deal with housing supply issues in the region. It is essential that the few pieces of remaining green land in the village are left intact and safe for future generations."