Residents in Barns Green, West Sussex, are celebrating after councillors rejected plans to build 68 homes on a field in the village.
Residents in Barns Green, West Sussex, are celebrating after councillors rejected plans to build 68 homes on a field in the village.
Barns Green — spelt without an “e” — lies south of Horsham.
Horsham District Council’s planning committee voted by seven votes to three against the proposals from Miller Homes at a packed meeting on Tuesday evening.
The scheme had faced fierce opposition, with more than 500 objections submitted to the council.
Residents raised concerns about flooding, sewage problems and whether local infrastructure could cope with dozens of additional homes.
There were also fears that extra pressure on the drainage system could affect a nearby watercourse.
Campaigners packed the council chamber for the meeting and welcomed the result when councillors voted to refuse planning permission.
Opponents had argued that the development was too large for the village and could place unacceptable pressure on local services and the environment.
However, the decision may not be the end of the dispute.
Miller Homes could submit revised plans or appeal against Horsham District Council’s refusal.
The council is expected to publish a formal decision notice setting out the full reasons why the application was rejected.
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