RESIDENTS are celebrating a victory in the battle to save a green gateway to the Downs – but say it is only the beginning.

Roger Harper hailed the decision by Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee to go against officers’ advice and reject plans for 125 homes on a Portslade green field.

Ward councillor Peter Atkinson, who raised concerns at the meeting about pressures on infrastructure, traffic, flooding and GP surgeries, hailed the decision a victory for residents.

The decision is a blow for King Alfred housebuilder Crest Nicholson who had argued developing land north of Graham Avenue would improve the ecological management of around half the site which would not be developed while bringing much-needed housing to the city.

More than 360 residents had objected to the plans and committee members echoed their concerns about the loss of wildlife, access issues and the increased risk of flooding.

The site is among 50 urban fringe sites the Planning Inspector had instructed the council to consider for housebuilding in order to meet the city’s huge housing demand.

Mr Harper said he felt compelled to speak on behalf of hundreds of residents who wanted to see the city’s urban fringe preserved.

He said: “There is an ongoing debate about housing and the future of the urban fringe and this is just the start of it.

“If it is going to be developed, it has got to be better thought out than this.”

Peter Rainier, director of planning at DMH Stallard, said the site offered an excellent opportunity to deliver a significant number of desperately needed family homes.

He said the proposals would help preserve chalk grassland on the site of nature conversation interest (SNCI) which was degrading into scrubland.

Conservative Councillor Lynda Hyde said: “The ecology will be decimated and no amount of mitigation will protect the slow worms, hedgehogs and grass snakes.”

Green Coucnillor Leo Littman said: “Chalk grassland was created by human beings and without the input of human beings it will disappear. Poorly managed SNCI stops becoming a SNCI, that’s what is at risk here. “ Conservative Joe Miller said: “Homes are needed for humans as well as other creatures. Rough sleepers are as endangered species as other creatures.”

Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said she was conscious of the level of disapproval with 369 objections to the scheme.

Planning committee chairwoman Julie Cattell said she did not feel so precious about the urban fringe as the city had many green fields and was surrounded by the national park.