THE High Court has dealt another blow to attempts to build 210 homes in Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford.

Developers JS Bloor (Northampton) Ltd and Hallam Land Management Ltd challenged a planning inspector’s decision to refuse permission for the controversial development, off Benson Lane, which would have doubled the size of the village.

They wanted Judge McKenna to order the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, to reconsider the planning application, giving them a fresh chance to build the homes, 84 of which would have been affordable.

The developers, who argued that planning inspector Edward Grace had failed to fully address whether the proposed houses complied with the area’s Development Plan, said affordable housing was urgently needed in the area and other housing sites were not being developed.

But today Judge Mckenna rejected the legal challenge, saying it was “inherently artificial and misconceived” and had ignored parts of Mr Grace’s original decision.

Nick Robbins of Crowmarsh Residents’ Action Group said: “It is very welcome news for the village. We presume that is the end of the line now. There is nowhere else for Bloor and Hallam to go. They have run the full course of the planning process and come to the end.”

Mr Robbins said villagers remained worried that plans for a smaller development on the site might be put forward.