PLANS for a housing development opposed by more than 250 residents have been rejected in “a victory for people power”.

Yesterday (November 6) Dartford Council’s development control board rejected developer South East Living’s application to build eight four-bedroom houses behind Joydens Wood Road in Wilmington.

Dartford Council had received a petition against the development from 274 nearby residents, who believed it would be “severely detrimental to the area”.

Amanda Clark, of Hunters Close, spoke to the council on behalf of the residents, and says she is “ecstatic they have rejected the application”.

The 46-year-old said: “The council listened to the residents, who all felt the development would be severely detrimental to the area”.

“Their decision is a victory for people power.”

In June the developer applied to the council for outline permission to demolish 64 and 66 Joydens Wood Road and build the detached houses on land in the gardens of 62 to 68, as well 26 and 28 Birchwood Drive.

It also wanted to build a road connecting the development to Joydens Wood Road.

As a result the council received the petition and around 40 letters of objection from residents living nearby.

The council lists the area as one of special residential character because it has a low level of properties which consist mainly of bungalows.

A number of residents wrote to the council to claim the development of houses would be out of character with the area.

They also said a rise in population in the area would over-subscribe local schools and GP practices as well as increasing traffic.

Last Saturday (November 1) around 30 residents gathered in Joydens Wood Road to protest against the plans.

Wilmington Parish Council and Dartford MP Dr Howard Stoate were also against the application, with both writing to Dartford Council to voice their opposition.

The council rejected the development because it would be “out of character with the area and not in keeping with spatial policy”.

The owners of the properties on the land earmarked for construction had agreed to sell to South East Living if planning permission had been granted, according to its chief executive Nigel Styles.

He said: “We are planning to appeal the development control board’s decision because the application had been recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers.”