Residents fighting plans for accommodation to be built near badger setts won a small victory last week as the council rejected an application without protection for nearby animals and plants.

From April 21: Residents protest against plans for 77-bed student accommodation

From November 6: 77 student homes to be built near wildlife habitats

From November 11: 'We will fight on' vow residents over fears plans for 77 student beds will destroy wildlife habitat

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council planning officers refused Shrewsbury developers Loganberry Ltd’s plans to build on land next to the railway populated with badgers, lizards, foxes, and stag beetles in Mill Road, Epsom on Friday, November 27.

The developers had previously had plans approved for ten family homes and 77 student accommodation units to be built on the site in April and earlier this month respectively.

Julie Morris, a landscape gardener who lives in the same road as the development, was pleased with the latest decision but is still nervous any potential build would disrupt residents parking as well as local wildlife.

She said: "We are very pleased, but it was not unexpected.

"Why would you lodge something like that, other than to see if you could get away with it?

"As long as nothing is happening, that is fine.

"There is no doubt we would prefer ten family homes than the student homes - that fits much better with the wildlife sanctuary, but it is not our call - it is up to Loganberry to find someone to buy their land."

Although the site - between Epsom's Mill Road and the railway - is not a Conservation area, it is home to badgers, foxes, lizards, stag beetles and plants.

Surrey Comet:

Ray Ings, chairman of the East Surrey Badger Protection Society, is concerned about the effect that any build would have on the site.

He said: "We want the greenbelt protected because it has a strategic role in protecting species and it is what gives the quality of the environment to our local area.

"If we strip this away we are just left with an urban continuum from the M25 to London.

"If they build, it is no good providing sanctuary for the badgers because there is barely enough foraging room already.

"They are just clinging on as it is."

A Council spokesperson said: "Council planning officers, under delegation of authority rules, rejected the latest Mill Road application.

"It was considered that this further application would result in a loss of a wildlife and biodiversity habitat, and appropriate mitigation and compensatory measures had not been proposed which would facilitate the survival of the identified protected species.

"Further, the proposal would secure no net benefit to the borough's biodiversity."

David Waller of Renaissance Holdings, the agent handling Loganberry’s application, did not wish to comment.