PLANS for a new housing estate on Spen Moor have been thrown out following an outcry by residents.
Developers Peel Investments wanted to construct 170 new homes on the site south of Bury and Bolton Road.
Householders sent 80 letters of objection to Bury's planning control committee and pleaded with members who met on Tuesday to refuse it.
They complained that attractive open fields would be lost and that there would be an increase in traffic congestion.
Objections were also made by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit who stressed that, as a Site of Biological Importance including a pond, the land should be protected.
The site is the subject of a long-running battle between residents and developers.
In 1999, Bury Council lost a court battle to give official green belt status to the land -- which runs from the Jolly Carter pub along to Kensington Drive and down to Spen Brook.
Three Arrows Tenants and Residents Association secretary Milton Coleman said his group had long been opposed to any building on the land.
He said: "We believe that the value of open green belt land is immeasurable.
"We particularly support the use of brownfield sites and urge that this policy is followed. We object to this development."
The proposals were recommended for refusal by planners, who argued that there were enough brownfield sites in the area to build houses upon.
It was added that developers had not provided enough open space within the development and that there was no affordable housing.
Councillors agreed and voted to refuse the application.
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