VILLAGERS are celebrating a reprieve after an appeal by developers to build houses on the site of their former pub was rejected.

Wycombe District Council had originally refused permission in May for developers, Mackenzie Developments Ltd, to build houses on the site of the Royal Oak in Great Kingshill.

Mackenzie appealed against the decision at a public inquiry last month but this was turned down by Clive Hughes, an inspector appointed by the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

He concluded that "the loss of the public house would be detrimental to the social wellbeing of Great Kingshill".

Mr Hughes also said the plan to construct five detached houses and two semi-detached houses would not be in keeping with the character of the village due to the limited mix of house types and sizes.

Members of Great Kingshill Residents' Association, who want the empty hostelry to be reopened as a pub, were very pleased with the decision.

Jane Spencer, who helped lead the campaign to save the pub, said: "We're delighted. Hopefully we'll be drinking in the pub by next Christmas. The pub is a way of community life."

"The residents' association is holding a meeting on Monday to decide where to go next but a lot depends on Mackenzie Developments, who still own the land, having bought it for more than £1 million.

"Obviously we still want the pub open." Mrs Spencer said.

Great Kingshill Village Hall Management Committee also welcomed the decision. It had put forward plans at the inquiry to use the Royal Oak grounds as a site for a new village hall but was primarily concerned with keeping the site for community use.

Betty Lay, chairman of Wycombe District Council's planning applications panel, welcomed the decision saying she was pleased their original decision was upheld.

Mackenzie Developments was unavailable for comment.