DEVELOPERS are expected to appeal a decision to reject 125 homes on the green gateway to the Downs despite hundreds of objections from residents.

King Alfred developers Crest Nicholson have told The Argus they are “very disappointed” with Brighton and Hove City Council planning committee’s decision to reject the plans and are “seriously considering” an appeal.

The committee knocked back the planned homes on land north of Graham Avenue, Portslade, last month despite planning officers recommending the scheme and the site being identified by the Planning Inspector as part of the urban fringe suitable for housing.

Ward councillor Peter Atkinson has urged the housebuilder to think again about its intentions to challenge the decision.

Under the planned scheme, 50 homes would be made available for affordable rent and shared ownership to meet the council’s affordable homes target.

As part of the arrangement developers would pay for £1.5 million of improvements to schools, employment, transport, open space, indoor sport and public art in the area while half of the site of nature conversation interest would be undeveloped and proactively conserved.

The planning committee took around 20 minutes on the day to come up with reasons to reject the scheme after voting it down.

The decision has also been publicly criticised by some committee members, Labour’s Adrian Morris described the rejection of a scheme delivering 40 per cent affordable housing as “very short-sighted” raising concerns it could see house prices “forced up” around the city.

A Crest Nicholson spokesman said: “We are naturally very disappointed with the committee decision.

“The majority of the site, which is currently in private ownership, would have remained undeveloped and opened up to the public with an ecological mitigation package put in place to reverse the decline of chalk grassland that has resulted from a lack of management.

“We are seriously considering an appeal but await the formal decision notice before proceeding.”

Cllr Atkinson said: “I’m saddened but not overly surprised at the suggestion that Crest Nicholson may appeal and I would ask them to think again.

“Almost 400 residents expressed their concerns with the original application and an appeal will do nothing to allay those concerns.

“Unless Crest Nicholson address the issues of extra road traffic, drainage, flooding and the potential for extreme disruption during construction then the reasons for it being turned down in the first place remain.”