A BELOVED area of Cirencester will stay leafy and green thanks to the hard work of local people.

Residents have been fiercely opposed to any development on the hilly area next to Bowling Green Lane, known as the Humpty Dumps, and came out in force against developer Baylight Properties when they applied in August to build up to 69 homes on the land.

But on Tuesday a Cotswold District Council (CDC) planning officer threw out the developer’s application for a number of reasons.

The planning officer said: “Given the visual sensitivity of the site and its unusual topography, and on the basis of the limited information submitted to enable the council to assess its impacts, it is considered that the proposed development, by virtue of its form, scale and location would result in a significant and prominent encroachment of development into open countryside beyond the settlement boundary.”

The Humpty Dumps is in the Special Landscape Area which makes it difficult for developers to force applications through.

The officer also said that no contribution to education, libraries, open spaces or affordable housing – known as a Section 106 agreement - had been offered to the community and this was “contrary to Cotswold District Local Plan policies”.

He added there was not enough information provided about drainage schemes or the houses’ archaeological impact. Without detailed information the officer could not say with certainty there would not be any flooding or a loss of Cirencester’s heritage.

Mayor Mark Harris said he was “really pleased” with the result and commended the “tremendous community effort”.

He had previously told the Standard he thought it was unlikely the planning application would make it through officers.

“I was fairly confident before because if you look at the previous Local Plan and the emerging Local Plan it is designated as a Special Landscape Area which should be protected,” he said.

“The community effort was a significant part of the applications being refused,” he said. “It was because of a group of dedicated people that the land was put in the Special Landscape Area. If it wasn’t for them it may have been built on."

He warned, however, there was “no doubt” that Baylight Properties would try to appeal, but added that the planning inspector was likely to back the CDC planners.

The unpopular company planned to build 100 homes in 2010 but was thwarted by residents who sought to protect the land from development by getting it designated with village green status. After a long fight the proposal was rejected by Gloucestershire County Council in April.

Mike Wallis, of Berry Hill Crescent, said: “The battle to keep our beloved Humpty Dumps from developers, whose objectives are the opposite of the community and neighbourhood (apart from one), is not only emotional but also interesting. It was clear right from the start in 2009 that money for the profiteers is the only objective.

“I'm hoping the government inspector sees sense when the developers appeal and agrees with CDC’s very valid points of refusal. The good thing to come out of all this is the stronger sense of community, new friendships made and the realisation of the many people who care for the Humpty Dumps across all generations for now and the future.”

Send your views on the news to jpi@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk.