A controversial plan to build new homes on green belt land in Bromsgrove has been rejected.

The application, which was submitted by agent Steve Haskey Design Ltd in October, would have seen five new bungalows and two semi-detached houses built on Old Birmingham Road in Marlbrook.

Despite the proposals suggesting the site was currently a builder’s yard, the land had been used for agricultural purposes in previous years and is positioned at the back of an existing bungalow.

Residents had previously raised concerns over the proposals including the damage it would do to wildlife and the increased traffic.

One resident, Sarah Channell, said: “Our land adjoins the proposal site and we strongly object to this proposal. It is not suitable for such a drastic change in land use by building on green belt farmland in a semi-rural area.

“There is also considerable wildlife that uses the land regularly and it is an important corridor for them to all the other open spaces surrounding us.”

Another resident, Catherine Robinson, said: “The proposed development is on green belt land, the core purpose of which is to prevent urban sprawl.

“We were told when we bought our home five months ago that the land behind us is protected as it is green belt land. This was a large factor for us when deciding to purchase our home.

“With this additional housing development, we are also concerned that the added traffic and locality of access to the development will cause a safety issue.”

The application has now been refused by Bromsgrove District Council.

In the refusal notice, the head of planning, regeneration and leisure services said: “The proposal represents an inappropriate development. The benefits of the development and all other considerations do not clearly outweigh the totality of harm the development would cause in terms of its inappropriateness and to green belt openness.

“Consequently, the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development do not exist.”

They added that the proposed development would not be linear to surrounding properties and the position of the driveway would impact on existing residents.