A THIRD bid to develop land at Hurst Meadows, Wyre Road, Pershore, failed when councillors unanimously rejected the plans.

The scheme put to Wychavon Council by Lansdowne Rodway Estates Ltd was for 85 dwellings with garages, parking courtyards and access roads.

It was a revised application after plans for the erection of 100 dwellings was withdrawn on August 6, 2004. An earlier application for residential development was refused and an appeal dismissed in August 1989.

The new layout plan showed a new access on to Wyre Road, with the estate road running southwards to serve a number of cul-de-sac. The houses for sale were shown at the back of the site with the 34 affordable units at the front.

Elements of public open space and play areas, included a village green, were included, as well as a 20-30 metre wide strip along the south eastern boundary and 20 acres for formal and informal recreation purposes.

Pedestrian and cycle links between the site and adjacent residential areas were proposed, with comprehensively landscaping along the northern and eastern boundaries.

Councillor John Grantham, of Pershore, said it was easy to go along with the officer recommendation for refusal as all the statutory undertakings had come out against it and it was against all council polices contained in the Local Plan.

"I don't think I have ever seen such a strong case and so it was not difficult to propose refusal which was carried unanimously," he said.

There was also a strong protest from Wyre Piddle Parish Council on the grounds development would destroy the strategic gap between the village and Pershore, and residents of Mill Lane and Mill Lane Close also voiced their strong objections.

No one from Lansdowne Rodway Ltd was available for comment.