CAMPAIGNERS who claimed a housing development would turn their village into an urban city' have claimed an interim victory.

Councillors backed residents by rejecting plans by Harron Homes to build 33 houses and 16 apartments off land adjacent to Deansgreave Road at the development control committee meeting.

They found that the developers had failed to address concerns over increased risk of flooding and the loss of amenity to nearby properties.

Although outline planning permission had previously been granted for 50 dwelling units in September 2004, the proposals for flats were not in keeping with the character of the area, councillors said.

But the developers can re-submit plans for the land, which was formerly used for industrial purposes, addressing the council's concerns.

Residents said they were happy the council had refused the application but that it was only an interim victory.

Pensioner Marilyn Darwin of Bryndor, Britannia, who lives immediately behind the land, said: "I feel very passionately about this development and the effect it coud have on our village.

"I object to the the closeness of the houses on the site. I have had great pleasure looking at the views over the years and could lose these with the proposals.

"One of our great worries is that the last time the site was excavated one of the properties had to be under pinned and this has worsened the amount of shaking of the properties.

"The type of properties, in particular the flats, are just not suitable for the area and there is the obvious risk of flooding."

Outside the Tuesday's Development Control meeting, Roger Matthew, who lives on Deansgreave Road, next to the proposed site, said: "We are very happy with this decision.

"Most residents live here because it is a village and want to escape the tower blocks of Manchester and they want to build an urban city around us.

"But it is only an interim refusal and we shall have to see what the planners come up with next."

Councillor Alan Neal, rejecting the plans, said: "I still feel strongly that four storey apartments do not marry with village life."

Councillor Gladys Sandiford added: "In light of climate change and the problems we have been having with flooding. If we do get similar problems to what happened in other parts of the country we have to bear the risk of flooding in mind.