VILLAGERS have won their battle to have a name for a new housing complex based on local history.Acorn Properties wanted to name their development numbers one to 21 Station Maltings, Station Road, Elmswell.

VILLAGERS have won their battle to have a name for a new housing complex based on local history.

Acorn Properties wanted to name their development numbers one to 21 Station Maltings, Station Road, Elmswell.

They had argued that the new design was based on maltings buildings typical to Suffolk and is next to Elmswell Station.

But parish councillors at the village near Stowmarket were unanimous in their hope that "The Granary" would be chosen instead. Villagers argued that their choice is based on local knowledge of the site's past use.

Mid Suffolk district councillors on the authority's Executive Committee voted unanimously in favour of "The Granary", at a meeting yesterday.

Wendy Marchant, a district councillor on the Executive, said: "The residents are still there after the developers have moved on. The Granary is a reflection of local history.

"It's a shame this has taken so long to resolve, and the developers will have spent money on the Maltings name, but this is the correct choice," she added.

District councillor Carol Milward said: "I am delighted, the people of Elmswell should have got their wish, not the developer. I'm mystified why the developers are trying to dictate in this way."

Acorn Properties had argued that both a maltings, which deals with barley for making beer, and a granary, which deals with wheat for flour, are traditional to Suffolk.

The site was developed and sold under the name Station Maltings after no comment was received from the parish council a year ago.

Some district councillors were critical that the parish council at the time had not made their wishes known earlier.