A HARVINGTON campaign against 'predatory' housing developers has succeeded in quashing a planning application appeal to build 67 houses.

A planning inspector rejected the appeal on August 17, noting Harvington's limited housing allocation in the South Worcestershire Development Plan.

Mike Barbour, coordinator of Harvington Says No, says the decision against the Crest Hill development is a victory for Harvington residents.

"We are not nimbys. We know what our next generation want," he said.

"This was way over the SWDP allocation of 15 houses for Harvington over the next 15 years."

Mr Barbour says surveys in the village show residents have no desire for more houses.

Barbara Shailer, who lives in Crest Hill, said: "The driver for the development was pure greed.

"The decision to preserve the village character and identity was down to sheer guts, hard work and tenacity of the village residents and Harvington says No."

Joy Davies, a Harvington resident, said: "We will continue to fight the urbanisation of our village.

"Predatory developers continue to threaten vale villages but this result proves that public opinion does count."

Planning inspector Nick Fagan concluded that the build would damage the setting of the Grade I listed St James' Church.

The inspector also said the development would clash with the pattern of the village and harm its character.

Mr Fagan added that the dwellings could be built in other areas, and not breach the recently adopted SWDP.

Steve Taylor, of Howland UK, made the application made the Crest Hill development application on August 17, 2015.

Mr Barbour said the decision shows the area has sufficient housing allocation.

"This is one battle Harvington has won, now for the big one against Gladman," he said.

Gladman Developments has made a third application to build 155 houses in Harvington, on land to the east of Evesham Road.

Steve Taylor, of Howland UK, said: "Apart from the top 20% of the site, which already has planning permission and is an allocated site in the SWDP, the remaining 80% is owned by local landowners and farmers who have lived in the Parish for over 60 years - so they could hardly be described as 'predatory'."

Mr Taylor, who says he part-owns the land in a personal capacity independent from Howland UK, said the SWDP was 'hardly a forward-looking plan' considering the number of houses allocated to the village.

He said the decision meant the 29 families on the council's affordable housing register list who expressed an interest to live in - or have a local connection to - the local area, will not get a house.

The decision also meant house prices in the village would remain high for the next 15 years, according to Mr Taylor.

Mr Taylor also mentioned that the planning inspector awarded costs against the council because they persisted with 'a spurious flooding reason for refusal, despite all evidence to the contrary.'