THERE were cheers in the council chamber tonight as the planning committee threw out two applications to build several hundred homes in Wroughton.

Dozens of residents turned out to hear passionate pleas from local and parish councillors, along with neighbours, for the plans to be rejected.

First up was a plan by Hannick Homes to build 103 houses on empty land off Marlborough Road.

Planning officers had recommended the committee reject the proposal as it fell outside land set aside for housing in the Local Plan and would have impacted on roads but on Monday Labour called for it to be accepted to meet housing demand.

However, all members of the committee, including those in the Labour Party, voted to refuse planning permission much to the delight of the public gallery.

The second proposal was for 100 homes at Berkeley Farm which was also rejected unanimously by the committee following strong local objections.

But the battle over Berkeley Farm might not be over as a similar application which was rejected last November was appealed and will be decided at a planning inquiry next month.