PLANS for a "monstrous" development of 98 homes in Bredon have been thrown out by planners.

There were cheers from the public gallery as Wychavon' District Council's planning committee unanimously refused the application to build on land off Tewkesbury Road and rear of College Road at a meeting yesterday (Thursday).

The proposals by Gladman Developments Ltd had come up against fierce opposition from the community with strong objections from Bredon Parish Council and 590 letters from residents.

Members noted the "unique" situation of both English Heritage and the National Trust strongly opposing to the plans over concerns the development would harm the conservation area which contains the Grade I listed St Giles Church and Tithe Barn.

After a long debate, councillors refused the plans on the grounds of noise - due to the site's proximity to the M5 - and the development's unsustainability.

Speaking against the application, Alison Palmer said: "This would lead to an unsustainable growth in Bredon. This very site was deemed unsustainable in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).

"This site is not well situated for local services. People living a kilometre away will not walk they will drive and lead to congestion".

Kevin Waters, speaking in support of the application, said: "We've been able to make a considerable number of amendments to improve the scene and reduce it from 107 to 98 homes and increase the level of affordable housing.

"Bredon is considered by this council to have excellent access to local amenities. It's clearly a sustainable settlement."

But Councillor Adrian Hardman said the community opposition to the development was clear.

"It's certainly generated more responses than I have ever experienced in my life," he said. "Bredon has certainly done it's fair share of the heavy lifting since 2007 we've seen a 16 per cent increase. This would be a 13 per cent increase.

"Great effort has been put in by the National Trust and English Heritage, I don't think I've ever known an application where both of these national organisations have taken up time and trouble to write on two occasions."

Proposing to object, Councillor Adrian Darby said: "It's very rare to get we get two Grade I-listed buildings in close proximity to one another. This is a unique situation."

Councillor Judy Pearce added: "It just seems to me developers are getting rather greedy. It can't be good for communities to have a development as big as this imposed on them all in one go.

"It's monstrous. We're not a large city where you have a big motorway running above us.This is a village situation. You can see plenty more fields that could be developed."