Development plans by Taylor Wimpey Strategic Land have been shot down after council bosses bowed to a wave of public pressure, which included almost 1000 letters of objection.

The property builders had intended to construct 475 new homes as well as a multi-purpose sports facility on greenbelt land in Rochester, Kent.

Plans were submitted to planning bosses at Medway Council who had been considering the proposals until now.

The controversial plans provoked a furious response from individuals and local charities who claimed that the project would damage local wildlife and greenbelt areas.

As many as 138 individuals contacted Medway Council to condemn the project and their complaints focused on environmental issues.

Both the RSPB and the Dickens Country Protection Society wrote to the council to express their concerns as they felt that the damage caused to land and wildlife deemed Taylor Wimpey’s plans to be unsuitable.

Summing up its decision to reject planning permission for the site, Medway Council explained, that amongst other issues, the impact any building work would have on the area’s environment was too great.

A council spokesman said: " the harm to the local landscape character, in particular the coalescence it would cause between Hoo and neighbouring settlements, would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme even if it was considered to be sustainable development.”

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: “We are disappointed with the council’s refusal of our application and we are currently reviewing the decision with a view to submitting an appeal to the Planning Inspector.”