CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a hundred new homes on greenbelt land in Kilmacolm have been killed off.

Development company Gladman has lost an appeal to the Scottish Government to overturn Inverclyde Council's rejection of the proposed scheme.

The planning board last year unanimously refused the application, which attracted no fewer than 1,120 objections.

Gladman wanted to build flats and houses in the Knapps and North Denniston beauty sports along Bridge of Weir Road.

The council said it would be an 'unjustified urban development' detrimental to the quality, character, landscape and identity of Kilmacolm.

Gladman argued in their appeal statement: "The council does not have a five-year supply of effective housing land.

"This is key to the assessment of this appeal and the application of policy.

"There are no adverse impacts arising from this proposal which would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits it confers."

But government planning chief Robert Maslin came down in favour of the council and objectors, stating that the plan was 'not an acceptable means' of addressing a shortfall in land for housing.

Mr Maslin added that the development would have been 'unacceptably obtrusive in an attractive landscape that is valued particularly locally'.

Kilmacolm Residents' Association representative Frances Hughes Fulton said previously of the targeted land: "It is a great open space where children play, people walk their dogs and there is the agricultural show.

"It is also one of the most beautiful entrances to a village that you will find anywhere in Scotland."