PROTESTERS cheered after a joint housing partnership decided to drop plans to build on a nature reserve.

Residents and environmentalists gathered outside Hove Town Hall yesterday where Hyde Housing and Brighton and Hove City Council were discussing their plans to build high rise blocks of flats on Whitehawk Hill Nature Reserve.

The plans, which would have “cut the reserve in half” according to demonstrators, were dropped, to the delight of the protesters.

Kim Tee, who took part in the demonstration, said: “What an amazing campaign.

“As soon as we saw Hyde Housing’s display in October 2018 about this crazy notion to build high rises on our nature reserve, locals set up the resistance to it.

“We’ve had bustling public meetings, community events, a walk round with 120 people in the rain, stalls, an archaeology talk with Dr Matt Pope – another 120 attending – and a huge outpouring of love for the hill.

“No matter what the council say, people power did this.”

The campaigners, most of which form part of the Save Whitehawk Hill Local Nature Reserve group set up in response to the building plans, said they fully understand the need for social housing in the city.

But they argue this should not be at the expense of nature and the communities that enjoy the hill.

But the battle is not over.

Ecologist Richard Bickers said the nature reserve is currently on a list of housing allocations meaning there could be another development on it in the future.

He said: “We may have officially stopped Hyde Housing building on it, but the next stage in the campaign is to get Whitehawk Hill removed from the list of allocations in City Plan Part 2, a scheme where it could be selected for another building project in the future.

“We will be submitting a representation challenging the evidence behind this allocation and seeking the continued support of the communities that use and love the hill to safeguard it for the future.”

Mr Bickers said the protest also took place to assert the group’s presence and remind others about the importance of the nature reserve to those in the community.

He said: “It’s just fantastic news for all those that care about this space.

“It’s great to have a presence and keep up the good fight.

“We are all aware it’s not over yet but it’s given me some hope that preventing any building on this nature reserve will be achievable.”

The council and Hyde Housing originally planned to build 217 affordable homes on the nature reserve.

After months of protests and resistance, the plans have now been dropped.