THERE have been celebrations in a Cotswold village as an appeal to allow 70 homes there has been rejected.

Broadway villagers had strongly opposed the plans for the new housing estate in Averill Close and the plans were refused by Wychavon District Council in February last year.

Despite the opposition house builder Redrow Homes submitted an appeal in October last year against the decision.

But earlier this month inspector Clive Hughes upheld Wychavon's decision to reject the plans confirming the authority is able to demonstrate a five year housing land supply.

Graham Love, from The Broadway Trust, has always been against the plans and said: “We very much welcome the Inspector's decision, and the reasoning behind it, which came as a huge relief to the village.

"The trust, the parish council, and the various community groups, whilst recognising the need for the new housing, have long maintained an objection in principle to new development in open fields in the AONB around Broadway.

"It is not necessary. We are therefore pleased that our stance has been vindicated by the inspector, and that he has recognised the national importance of AONB designated countryside and the harm caused by major development, and we hope this will be recognised in Broadway, and indeed countrywide, for the future."

And Andrew Lord, planning and landscape officer at Cotswolds Conservation Board added: "The Cotswolds Conservation Board were very pleased to see the inspector’s decision which accepted the proposal did constitute major development in the AONB.

"The inspector also agreed the development would fail to conserve or enhance the landscape or natural beauty of the AONB and accordingly in line with Government policy the appeal should be dismissed.

"The Cotswolds AONB is under considerable development pressure from housing allocations and planning applications."

The decision has delighted the district council which originally refused the application on grounds that included it being unsympathetic to the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cllr Judy Pearce, board member for planning and housing, said: "This appeal decision confirmed clearly that we can demonstrate that we have a five year land supply, we hope this will put a stop to speculative and inappropriate applications for housing in places where communities do not want it.

"This really is another landmark decision for Wychavon and this will only be strengthened by the emerging South Worcestershire Development Plan. Yes people need places to live, but these have to be in the right locations."