Residents in a Midland village will find out in the new year whether they have won their year-long battle against plans for a controversial housing scheme, it has been revealed.

They have been fighting against the proposals for land at the rear of houses in Brook Crescent and Western Road, Hagley. An appeal has been submitted by developers after original plans were rejected by Bromsgrove District Council.

More than 200 residents have lodged objections to the plans, which were submitted by developers Kite and Billingham.

A decision is set to be made in the first week of January, it has been confirmed.

Hagley Parish Council had urged residents to write to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol, which will decide the appeal.

So far at least 200 people have posted objections, with at least another 100 expected before the November 5 deadline.

Parish council chairman Steve Colella said: “We have backed our objections up with facts and hopefully the inspector will take them into account.”

Governors at Hagley Primary School have also raised concerns that they could not cope with pupil influx.

Mr Colella said that the local infrastructure would not be able to cope with the extra houses.

He said there would be increased traffic, while doctors’ surgeries would be over-subscribed. And residents say the homes would not be in keeping with the character of the area.

Mr Colella, of Lodge Crescent, said: “The A456 is congested and it became gridlocked with the recent snow. These homes would make things even worse.”

“We have beaten this once and we hope to do it again.”

Sixteen of the homes would be two-bedroom and 23 four-bedroom.

Residents are also braced for another fight after a 550,000 sq ft area of land was opened up for potential development by Bromsgrove District Council.

It is part of the authority’s core strategy, which aims to attract investment to the area.

A report by the council says the piece of land could accommodate 250 homes.

A public consultation is being held on the core strategy, with residents encouraged to submit their opinions.