A proposal to build 375 new homes on the edge of Attleborough has been refused by planning officials, to the delight of people living nearby.

Residents had raised concerns about traffic safety and said the development, which would have been built on 3.9 hectares of land off London Road by developer Taylor Wimpey, pre-empted the Attleborough and Snetterton Heath Area Action Plan (ASHAAP).

The issue had been discussed by Breckland Council's planning committee on two previous occasions but was deferred to allow infrastructure issues and the design of some houses to be addressed.

Members today (Monday) rejected amended plans on the grounds that they fell outside guidelines and because of remaining highways concerns.

Speaking after the meeting, Stephen Hall, member of the Attleborough Community Team who spoke in objection to the plans, said: 'I'm pleased this committee has actually listened to the views of Attleborough.

'What it does is send a clear message to other developers that they can't railroad the area action plan, because if this went ahead anybody could have come along and put in an application for any piece of land around Attleborough.'

Developers had proposed to narrow London Road, extend a 30mph speed limit, widen paths and cycle lanes and install speed reactive signs, as well as mitigate the impact of seven two-and-a-half storey homes at the front of the scheme by reducing the number to five and interspersing them between smaller houses.

Access to the site was not altered but traffic lights would have been installed at the junction of Exchange Street and Connaught Road.

Several councillors raised concerns about traffic along London Road, while councillor for the Queens ward in Attleborough, Jenny North, also asked for assurances hedgerows would not be dismantled during nesting season and councillor for the Abbey ward in Thetford, Carl Clark, called the scheme 'premature'.

Taylor Wimpey is expected to appeal the decision.