Residents clapped and cheered as plans to build three luxury houses on a hill overlooking their homes were thrown out.
The proposals, which would have seen the three homes built in Western Road, Billericay, were rejected because of fears over highway safety as well as the effect on nearby houses.
Members of Basildon Council's development control and traffic management committee also spoke of concerns for a badger sett thought to exist near the development site.
More than 20 residents living in Western Road and nearby West Park Drive and Tanfield Drive turned out to oppose the plans.
Following the decision, a residents' spokesman said: "We are relieved. We accept there will be some sort of development on the site in the future but what was proposed was totally unacceptable."
Under the plans, two of the three homes would have been built in an existing back garden.
A number of residents claimed that, because of the way the land sloped down at the back of the site, the new homes would overlook their houses and gardens.
Published Friday July 9, 2004
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