Plans for a controversial housing development which could see almost 300 homes built in a Suffolk village have been withdrawn amid mass local objection.

Developers Taylor Wimpey hoped to build 295 homes on a site to the north of Gracechurch Street in Debenham, with a 2.0 hectare plot set aside for use as a primary school or other community use.

The original plans for the site were turned down by Mid Suffolk District Council in December 2018 on the grounds that they would represent “unacceptable harm” to the village due to the size of the development.

There were also concerns about the impact the housing could have had on views over the Deben Valley.

However the development company resubmitted the plans in December 2019 saying that significant changes had been made since the last application.

A spokesman said: “We have decided to withdraw our planning application for land to the north of Gracechurch Street, Debenham, in order to undertake further work on our proposals and respond to comments submitted by the local community.

“We have notified the Parish Council of our decision and we are now considering our options for the site and planning our next steps.”

The plans would have seen 100 affordable homes built in the village as well as a range of two, three and four bed homes.

Taylor Wimpey says the designs were “carefully considered” and the affordable homes would provide “important social benefit” to the area.

However, the online application has received 453 objections from local residents, who were backed up by their local parish council who argued that the plans were “in conflict” with their neighbourhood plan.

The council said that their plan, which was supported by 95% of residents at a statutory referendum, would provide “hundreds” of homes which would make up a “significant contribution” to the district’s housing needs.

Commenting on the application, residents described the plans as “a disaster” while others have raised questions over the resubmission of the application.

One said: “This proposed development provides no benefit to the community and village of Debenham, to the contrary, it would be very detrimental to the village on various key issues.”