Dozens of protesters cheered as councillors threw out plans to build 10 homes on the edge of the playing field at Varndean College in Brighton.
The Save Varndean Green campaigners held a demo outside Hove Town Hall before the meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee.
They have been fighting a proposal by Varndean College to build 10 homes. Three of the houses were intended to be affordable – two for rent and one in shared ownership.
Officials said that there was demand for larger homes locally and the sheme had one two-bedroom property, six three-bed homes and three with four bedrooms.
The Planning Committee voted five to four against granting planning permission when the application went before them this afternoon (Wednesday 6 March).
Speaking on behalf of Save Varndean Green, campaigner Sue Dibb, who lives in nearby Friar Crescent, said that the group would challenge the application in any way that it could if it went through.
Concerns were raised about the effect on the butterfly haven, which was set up in 2012 with a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. The committee was told that it could not be relocated.
Ms Dibb said: “It took five years for the protected small blue to become established there.
“The proposed site is an access route regularly used to gain access to the top playing field.”
The current site is linked with the Surrenden Road wildlife corridor and the proposed new site would be separate them.
Varndean College’s field is listed as an asset of community value and neighbours are also concerned about the loss of the sea view.
Campaigners wanted the application deferred as they did not believe that councillors had enough time to consider all aspects of it.
Conservative councillor Nick Taylor spoke against the scheme on behalf of his fellow Withdean ward councillors, Ken and Ann Norman, and Patcham ward councillors Geoffrey Theobald and Lee Wares.
He said: “No master plan from the college has been shared publicly, meaning that the cumulative impact of these developments cannot be properly assessed.
“This area is designated nature improvement land and is therefore a material consideration under the city plan.”
If anybody seriously believes butterflies and other wildlife were the main consideration here, then they need their bumps felt. I do wish people would at least try to be slightly less disingenuous.
I spoke to the residents outside as I went in to ask a Public Question about Hove – they seemed to think I was a Councillor! – and I said how strongly I oppose plastic “grass”, which creates an urban heat island: it kills off vital subterranean life.
Well done to the residents for giving their time to all this.