FAMILIES are celebrating after plans to build 210 homes in their village were thrown out by planners for the second time.

Last week, South Oxfordshire District Council refused permission for Bloor Homes and Hallam Land Management to build homes at Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford, which residents claimed would have destroyed the character of their village.

It was the third application submitted by Bloor Homes and Hallam Land Management for the field behind The Street and Benson Lane.

The second application for 420 homes was refused by planners in December. Before that a planned development of 200 homes was withdrawn.

The firm will appeal the 420 home application in November and is expected to appeal the most recent decision too.

Resident Nick Robins, 60, of Benson Lane, was a member of campaign group Crowmarsh Residents’ Action Group (Crag) which vehemently opposed the plans.

He said: “We are delighted. It was unanimously rejected by the planning committee and about 80 villagers turned up to the meeting.

“There were huge cheers when it was rejected.”

He added: “We are worried about the appeal though. Previously the village could lobby the local planning committee, but the appeal decision now is down to the planning inspector.”

Stephen Beatty, 42, of Benson Lane, said: “Everyone is happy but we are not celebrating too much because they are just going to keep on coming back with other applications.

“The council has sent a clear message to them and the residents have sent a clear message to them. We will not retreat, we will not surrender if they continue to put in applications.”

Brian Spragg, 59, of Lane End, said: “We have always thought it would go to appeal, and we are planning for it.

“One issue is that of flood risk, and we are going to continue to collect evidence to use in the any inquiry.”

Planning committee members said the proposed development was on a greenfield site not allocated for development in the council’s long-term plan for the district.

They also said the development failed to provide affordable homes and failed to secure provision for necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of the growing population.

Wallingford Town Council opposed the development, saying it would increase traffic over the town’s bridge and cause air quality problems in High Street.

Town councillor Imran Lokhon said: “The infrastructure links between Crowmarsh and Wallingford could not cope with this development.”

No one from Bloor Homes or Hallam Land Management was available for comment.