A controversial plan for more than 20 homes in a village has been refused.

The Waterson Homes plan for land east of Blackthorn Way and Campion Way in Leavenheath was discussed by Babergh District Council's planning committee on Wednesday, March 20. 

The plan included 23 homes with associated roads, parking, garages and outbuildings, as well as the construction of a new vehicle access from the A134 and a footpath connection. 

It included a mixture of one-bedroom flats alongside two, three, four, and five-bedroom houses. 

Eight of the homes were to be affordable housing.

The plans, details of which were first submitted last summer, proved controversial in the village – with 38 people lodging objections to the council. 

Leavenheath Parish Council were also against the proposal and said it was not in keeping with the adopted Leavenheath Neighbourhood Plan 2023.

The council raised concerns over housing size, type, tenure, location, scale, and rate of housing development, and said the plan did not provide a "sustainable drainage solution". 

During the meeting last Wednesday, councillors voted by a majority of 10 to one to refuse the plan.