AN MP has hailed a ‘great victory’ for residents of Hatfield Peverel as the Planning Inspector dismissed an appeal for 80 homes in the village.

Priti Patel has been working closely with campaigners from the village to fight the application for 80 homes to be built at Stonepath Meadow.

Ms Patel said: “This is a great victory for the campaigners in Hatfield Peverel who worked tirelessly to defend this site from development.

“The decision is quite clear in highlighting the damage that this development would cause and the need to protect this site.

“The community in Hatfield Peverel has come together and I will continue to support them as we continue to defend this village’s green spaces and its character.”

Braintree Council decided not to defend the appeal and Ms Patel also called for the council to “reflect on the way it has handled development issues in Hatfield Peverel”.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has also called in a decision for 140 dwellings on the same site and for 120 dwellings at Gleneagles Way.