A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to build 100 homes on Rodborough Fields has been refused by Stroud District Council.

Planning officers at SDC refused the proposal under delegated powers.

Officers had concerns about ecology, surrounding wildlife and the impact on the AONB.

Lioncourt Homes submitted the plans for approximately 100 homes on a 3.3 hectare patch of the fields between Dr Newton’s Way bypass and the existing King’s Road estate in the spring last year.

More than 2,500 opponents wrote to SDC and letters were even sent from visitors and former residents from as far away as Australia and Canada.

The public campaign against the development attracted widespread attention and will be featured on a future episode of the BBC2 series The Planners.

Campaigners from the Rodborough Field Preservation Group are now working to protect the area as there are concerns the developer may appeal.

The group hosted a get-together on Monday night at the Prince Albert in Rodborough to celebrate the decision and to thank all the members of the community and groups that have been involved in the campaign.

At the event, Rodborough Fields Preservation Group chairman Rob Griffiths, said: “We are delighted that permission has been refused for development.

“A special mention must go to Bob Tiley, who successfully defended the fields before and who started and supported this campaign above and beyond the call of duty.

“Most importantly, we need to say thank you to the Rodborough and Stroud communities, whose continuous support has been amazing.”

The Stroud News & Journal contacted Lioncourt Homes, but they declined to comment on the decision.