Plans for five homes in a Rutland village have been withdrawn following opposition from villagers and its parish council.

Melvyn Evans of Stamford-based Ross Thain Architects, as agents, sought to build the homes on a 8820M2 site off Main Street, Cottesmore.

The application to Rutland County Council said a planned layout concerning the field would allow each home to its own identity, without overlooking into nearby properties.

The scale of the development, built in local stone, would also be in keeping with the area, it also said.

However, residents opposed the application and told the county council it would by overlooking nearby properties harm local residential amenity, the site access was unsuitable and the site itself was a wildlife habitat.

It would also be an "unacceptable cramped form of development."

Cottesmore Parish Council told Rutland County Council the planned site was outside the current local plan's limit of development and was contrary to the Cottesmore Neighbourhood Plan.

Whilst a review of the Local Plan is underway, the principle of development on this site has not yet been established.

Their response continued: "Furthermore, the draft Local Plan suggests that the site should include a maximum of 8 houses, at least 2 of which must be affordable.

"This clearly reflects the importance that RCC places on new affordable housing in Cottesmore. Seeking therefore, to provide 5 large houses, is clearly an attempt to

circumvent this potential commitment to the requirement to provide affordable housing, were the principle of housing development to be established on this site."

The parish council also said: "Proposed development on this site has been refused in the past. One of the reasons for this has been the limited access to the site, something we do not consider this application has adequately resolved."

It added the Village Hall Management Committee also believed if the site were ever to be developed,some of it should be used for community activity related to the Village Hall.

The withdrawal has been posted on the county council website.