Residents elated after property developers pull out

Residents had put their life savings into a community bid to conserve the land for nature before their offer was gazumped

A group of residents are elated that a property developer has backed out of a deal to develop land owned by the Church of England.

The land off Floyer Lane in Benthall, Shropshire, has been deemed to be of ecological value by the National Trust and is popular with walkers.

Residents said they had put their life savings into a community bid to conserve the land for nature and added they thought they had put a successful bid in with the church.

However, they were told last year a property developer had agreed a higher fee for the land.

The Church Commissioners, who handled the sale, said by law they had to get the best return for the land.

They told the BBC it was taking time to consider next steps with regard to the future of the site.

Resident Laura Davies told the BBC she was elated at the news.

"When we won the bid we were elated as a community thinking we could protect it," she said.

"The unrest it's caused has been quite awful. There are trees in those fields that have been there for generations and generations. There are beautiful open spaces."

"There are trees in those fields that have been there for generations and generations," Ms Davies said

Ms Davies said the church had told the community's acting agent the land would not go back onto the open market, but if the decision was made to sell, the community would be approached first.

Councillor Dan Thomas said: "It's important that Shropshire Council protects these things."

Dan Thomas, Conservative councillor for Much Wenlock on Shropshire Council, said the land was not marked as suitable for development as it was a green space in the Broseley Conservation Area.

"If this development had gone ahead you would have almost joined Broseley and Benthall together and they're two very distinct towns with their own heritage and history.

"To have that space between them was very important."