A campaign group from Clavering are celebrating after successfully opposing a developer’s planning appeal for 42 new homes in the village.

Hands Off Clavering formed in August last year to fight plans for a new housing development north of Pelham Road by Gladman Developments Ltd.

The original plan submitted by Gladman was for 51 homes, but when that was refused by Uttlesford District Council (UDC), the developer put forward a amended application for 42 properties.

A further application for 35 homes was also submitted and denied in June, and planning inspector Peter Jarrett decided to consider both proposals in his inquiry.

In his report, Mr Jarrett said that UDC were able to demonstrate that it has a five-year supply of housing sites approved in the district.

He also said that approval would be contrary to a number of Local Plan policies, which seek to protect heritage assets from harmful development, and that the plan was considered unsustainable under National Planning Policy Framework.

The decision follows two other successful campaigns against developments in the district this year.

In June, residents in Thaxted fought a successful campaign against Gladman building a 120-home development off Walden Road, and in the same month, Kier Homes were refused permission on a 300 property site off Thaxted Road in Saffron Walden.

Edward Stanford, Hands Off Clavering chairman, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the decision. It is testament to all the hard work from UDC and many people in the village who worked tirelessly all through the campaign.

“The whole community worked together to fundraise, support and prepare evidence for the case against the developer, and it has been nothing short of a mammoth task.

“When we initially took advice about the plan, we knew we had a strong case, but it was only through the sheer hard work of people in the village that we were able to fight the development successfully.

“We are very satisfied with the result and will enjoy a glass of champagne or two over Christmas.”

Gladman Developments was contacted, but did not want to comment on the decision.