VILLAGERS are celebrating a victory over housing developers after a controversial homes plan was rejected.

Residents opposed to 100 houses being built on land in Tarporley cheered as councillors refused the application at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday, which was filmed by the BBC for a new television series.

Delighted campaign leader Michael George, who spoke at the meeting, hailed the hard work and support shown by villagers, parish councillors and Cheshire West and Chester councillor Eveleigh Moore-Dutton.

However, he says they must now focus on stopping the proposed development once and for all when the matter goes to a public inquiry on May 22.

Mr George told the Chronicle: “It was great to see the councillors standing up for localism and respecting the views of our community.

“The debate still goes on though and the application will now be heard at a national appeal, with an outcome from that likely to be published three months later.

“The parish council, local councillor and residents will be working extremely hard over the coming weeks to get our case in the best place it can be to ensure we can also get the application rejected at the appeal.”

Developer Fox Strategic Land and Property has submitted two applications for the same site, off Nantwich Road.

The first application has gone to a public inquiry as a result of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate because Cheshire West and Chester Council failed to make a decision within the statutory eight-week period.

However, they were hoping to withdraw the appeal had the planning committee ruled in favour of the second application on Tuesday.

Planners had recommended the scheme for approval but the majority of councillors did not agree.

They did, however, give permission for the first application in February to inform the public inquiry as to how they would have ruled on the plans.

Footage from the meeting will feature in a new BBC2 programme later in the year focusing on planning issues faced by rural communities, new Government laws and efforts to conserve British heritage.

To read a full report of the council debate, visit www.chesterchronicle.co.uk.