JUBILANT campaigners are celebrating news that Malvern’s ‘green lung’ has officially been saved from development by a planning inspector.

After three years of bitter opposition, the controversial bid to build 150 homes on Hayslan Fields has been rejected at an appeal, sparking delight.

A government planning inspector has kicked out the bid by developer Barwood, citing the land as one of Malvern’s key green spaces.

Ecstatic campaigners yesterday labelled the decision “wonderful”, while council chiefs said the verdict would will act as a warning to other developers looking to buildprey on Malvern’s treasured spots.

Hayslan Fields, off Hayslan Road, was not earmarked for any homes under the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

Jeff Williams, chairman of the Pickersleigh Residents Group, said: “I’m absolutely delighted and so are an awful lot of others people.

“Our 350 members are tripping over their smiles, not to mention the 1,500-plus people who signed a petition against it.

“There’s so many people to thank over the last two-and-a-half years – the council’s planners, the councillors, the Campaign for Rural England, the residents, anyone else who supported us.

“We’ve never been against the supply of new housing, but we’ve always said ‘you’ve got to balance it against where people live’.”

Tom Eustace, the group’s secretary, said: “It’s been a long fight – everyone that got involved in this was objecting to it.”

Planning inspector Jane Miles said the fact it was not in the blueprint, which allocated land for 28,370 properties across Malvern, Worcester and Wychavon by 2030, was another good reason to reject the appeal.

In her report, Mrs Miles also cited “harm to the environment” if the development was allowed, saying the town’s character would be damaged.

It had been opposed vociferously by the district council, which defended itself during the appeal.

Cllr Val Myatt said: “I’m absolutely delighted, the residents’ group worked so hard.

“We always had faith that the argument over keeping our green space would win the day.

“We felt we had to stay strong – what this shows is that Malvern should be out of reach from any other developers who fancy a bit of land not in the SWDP.”

Gary Williams, head of planning and housing at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We’re delighted with the inspector’s decision to uphold the council’s refusal of planning permission to develop land at Hayslan Fields.

“It’s very encouraging the inspector accepted the status and weight to be afforded to the recently-adopted SWDP and firmly rejected suggestions the council could not evidence a five-year housing land supply.

“The inspector recognised how important this area of green space is to the local community, and to the character of the town.”

Barwood Strategic Land did not respond to requests for a comment.