A planning inspector has turned down three applications to build 190 homes in Great Bentley.

City and Country applied in early 2017 to build homes on land on both sides of Thorrington Road and west of Plough Road. A site south of Thorrington Road would also have had land for a health centre, expansion of the village primary school and public open space, under the proposals.

Tendring District Council refused the applications last June, prompting an appeal on the decisions by the developers.

A planning inspector has now dismissed the appeals after an inquiry, and also rejected an application by City and Country for TDC to pay its appeal costs.

The inspector ruled the council could demonstrate a five-year supply of housing across Tendring, meaning development outside of settlement boundaries would not be acceptable as there is no immediate housing shortfall to tip the balance in favour of house building.

He also agreed with TDC that the development would unacceptably harm the landscape and heritage of Great Bentley, and said overall “whether taken cumulatively or individually these three proposals would bring a further increase in housing development that would be clearly disproportionate in relation to the size and status of the village”.

The decision has been welcomed by the council.

A spokesman said: “It is important that future development is led by our Local Plan, which will protect the heritage and landscape of the district while ensuring any growth is sustainable.

“Therefore we welcome the planning inspector’s backing of our emerging Local Plan, our estimates on required housing growth, and support of our rejection of these applications.”