REJECTING plans to build 130 homes on the edge of Saltburn has been welcomed by the town’s MP after councillors went against officers’ advice and refused the controversial development.

Taylor Wimpey was seeking outline permission to construct a new estate on farmland south of Marske Road which could have included two, three, four and five bedroom homes as well as affordable housing.

Planning officials said that having considered all material planning considerations, the scheme was consistent with the national planning policy framework.

However, the proposal attracted 220 letters of objection and ultimately 11 out of the 12 members of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s planning committee voted against the application, with one abstention.

The councillors argued that the location was outside development limits and that the authority marginally has enough house-build projects to meet its required five-year supply target.

The importance of maintaining a distance between Saltburn and Marske, known as a ‘strategic gap’ was also used to defend the decision to reject the plans.

The decision was welcomed by MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Tom Blenkinsop, who said: “I thank them for listening to my concerns and the concerns of the 220 residents who formally objected to the development which would have seen the green wedge between Saltburn and Marske eroded and was out of development limits.”

Councillor David Fitzpatrick told the meeting held at Redcar’s Community Heart building: “Saltburn is unique as it’s a small Victorian seaside resort but it’s unique in another way, it’s thriving because people want to go there and people want to run businesses there and people want to visit because of what it is.

“Carry on building on around it and in it and you will take all that uniqueness away.”

Councillor Peter Spencer said he was also worried about the narrowing of the ‘strategic gap’ which, if granted, would have narrowed the distance between Saltburn and Marske from 740m to 610m.

“It does not take long before someone else want to come along and add a little bit more and we end up with not two rural communities but an urban conurbation," he said.

“This is outside the area for development and we have a 5.3 year housing stock,” added Councillor Mary Lanigan. “It is agricultural land and I think we are well justified in refusing this application. If this goes to the inspectorate I am sure that on the grounds that we have here that it would be refused.”