A group of campaigners are celebrating after successfully fighting a developer's plans to build more homes on their estate.

The 40 neighbours in Parkwood Hill, Greenhithe, joined together to battle the proposal after a planning application was submitted to build six homes on an area of green space.

Alex Paduraru, who spearheaded the fight, was furious when a letter dropped through his letterbox outlining the plans just three months after he moved in.

“They weren’t on the original plans,” he said. “If they were I would have had to put up with it.

“Permissions and conditions had already been approved and the area where the new units were proposed to be was part of the landscaping area from the previous application which had remained incomplete.

“Permission had only been granted for 40 homes.”

Bitterly opposed to the idea, the dad-of-one collected signatures from all his neighbours and started a three-year fight to stop the proposals going ahead.

“Every single neighbour signed it,” he said.

“We were worried the proposal would be cramped, excessively large and visually intrusive to the existing properties.

“It would have caused more traffic and congestion in the area. The buildings would also have overshadowed the existing houses as they would have been on higher ground.

“Not to mention the fact the plans were going back on those that had been approved to provide an area of open space.”

Before Christmas, it was announced the appeal had been rejected by Dartford council.

Councillor David Mote, who backed the residents in their battle, is the Conservative representative for Greenhithe and Knockhall.

He said: “This was a nightmare development that was identified by residents who, supported by Cllr Cally Gale and myself, requested the council to reject the original application.

“Following a long journey, which included a planning rejection followed by an appeal rejection and a lot of legal complications, the developer was forced to stand down and landscape the area.

“The positive outcome was a result of residents, councillors and council officers working together over a long period to get the right thing done. Developers don’t always win.

“Personally I’m looking forward to having a picnic where the site office used to be.”

Alex, 34, says he is looking forward to his daughter Eva Maria, who is nearly two, being able to play on the grass outside her home.

“It’s a nicer view than more houses,” he said. “It will be nice to play in the space.”