AFTER a 17-year fight, a controversial housing development on Sheppey has finally been rejected.

Campaigners fighting the Redrow Homes development at Danley - a greenfield site which divides Halfway and Minster - were informed of the decision this morning.

It follows a public inquiry that began in October and ended in November when the Plannning Inspectorate heard evidence from both Redrow Homes and Swale Borough Council.

Redrow claimed the site is well related to the centre of Halfway and local schools and meets the need for more homes on Sheppey.

But the council argued that under a planning policy guidance from central government there was no need to release a greenfield site and that the number of homes on Sheppey before 2006 can be met through development on previously developed sites.

David Orpin, chairman of Minster and Halfway Residents' Association, said: "It feels brilliant.

"We are waiting for our letter to arrive so we can read the decision because sometimes there's conditions but now we've got to make sure the site gets de-allocated for housing in the review of the local plan so that Minster and Halfway are permanently separated."