AN inspector has thrown out plans that residents had claimed would double the size of a Hampshire village.

Developers wanted to build 230 homes in Butlocks Heath, near Netley.

A public inquiry held back in October saw Eastleigh Borough Council go head to head with representatives of Sheet Anchor Properties after it failed to decide on the proposals.

Now the inspector has dismissed the developer’s case to the delight of opponents.

Residents and councillors had argued that building on the site, off Grange Road, could cause flooding, traffic problems, overwhelm infrastructure and have a negative effect on the character of the village.

In his report, the inspector said although there were benefits to the scheme, including housing, he gave substantial weight to the harm on the area’s character and maintaining the separate identities of communities.

Kim Sandom, chairman of the Sitting Ducks group that campaigns against development in the area, said: “We’re very encouraged and we hope that in any future appeals that the inspectors take the same line.”

He said the same issues raised here were relevant to another appeal for homes on land at Hamble Station, on which a decision by the Secretary of State is still pending.

Netley Abbey councillor David Airey had argued that the 230 homes would add to the current 280 properties, virtually doubling housing in Butlocks Heath.

He said: “It’s a wonderful result - I couldn’t have wished for a better Christmas present.”

But he cautioned that it was no guarantee of future success on other sites under threat as each are judged on their own merit.

Fellow councillor Lizette van Niekerk, said she was delighted that the inspector had listened to residents’ concerns.

This comes after two recent planning appeals went against the council.

One was for 106 homes at Sovereign Drive in Botley held in July.

The other involved 150 homes on land off Hamble Lane in Bursledon and landed the taxpayer with a bill of more than £38,000 in legal costs after Eastleigh Borough Council chose to challenge the inspector’s decision to allow the development in the High Court.

Sheet Anchor Properties could not be contacted for a comment.