CAMPAIGNERS have won a landmark victory in their attempt to protect an area of open space threatened with development.

At the Supreme Court yesterday, the Friends of Coatham Common, in Redcar, east Cleveland, successfully challenged a decision to block its plans to have the area registered as a village green.

The unanimous decision is expected to have a major impact on similar campaigns to save green sites, according to lawyers.

The long-running legal campaign has cost Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees – estimated to be about £1m.

And the six-year battle has put the brakes on a £55m scheme to build 350 houses, a swimming pool, leisure facilities and a visitor centre.

Charlie Davis, from The Friends of Coatham Common, said: “This is amazing.

After years of battling to save this green space, where generations of Coatham people have played football and cricket, we have finally won the day.

“We now call on the council to work with us to make this green space a worthy memorial to our greatly-missed late MP, Mo Mowlam. Some people may regard us as Nimbys, but green space in this highlyindustrial region should be cherished and protected.”

The decision has caused the council and Persimmon Homes to rethink plans for the area.

Council leader George Dunning said: “We are disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision. This means we won’t be able to progress the regeneration of Redcar as quickly as we would have liked. We must now consider the options available to us. We are meeting Persimmon Homes next week to consider the options.”

The council’s cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Mark Hannon, said: “This is a setback for the council’s plans for this area, but I’m determined that we will not be distracted from our aims to regenerate the borough, particularly Redcar.”

David Jenkinson, chairman of Persimmon Homes North- East and Teesside, said: “We are disappointed the court has ruled in favour of the legal challenge by the Friends – and therefore against the 350 new homes. We are keen to meet the council to determine a course of action.”