A controversial plan for up to 120 homes at Charminster next to the Grade I-listed Wolfeton House has been rejected by West Dorset planners.

But the decision may not yet be final.

Today's committee heard that the applicants have threatened an appeal, or judicial review – and a Government department may yet call in the application to decide it themselves.

Although the council committee has made its decision the district council is unable to issue any paperwork until at least May 4 by which time they expect to have heard from the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government.

Historic England have pledged to support the district council if there is further action.

Around 50 people listened to the two-hour debate which centred around how the area’s need for new homes should be weighed against protecting the landscape and the setting of Wolfeton House, described as one of the county’s finest historic buildings.

Planning officers had recommended approving the outline application telling councillors the details could be agreed later.

But historical experts, the Thomas Hardy Society, Natural England and many local residents all urged rejection of the scheme which one expert described as “a punt”.

Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes spoke out prior to the meeting as President of the Hardy Society. Wofeton House once belonged to the Trenchard family whose name provided inspiration for the Michael Henchard in Hardy's Mayor of Casterbridge novel.

Lord Fellowes claimed the development would 'destroy a major element in Hardy's story'.

The application was for a 6-hectare farm field south of Westleaze with a new access road to be created by cutting through a mature hedgerow, described by some as a ‘wildlife corridor.’

Historic England’s Simon Hickman appeared at the committee to say that the organisation believed the “isolated seclusion” of Wolfeton would be threatened by the proximity of the homes.

He said the house had “immense historical value and substantial national importance.”

Offering to stand behind the council in a refusal he said: “It has not been demonstrated how up to 120 houses can go there without damaging the setting of Wolfeton.

“The level of detail simply isn’t there. It’s a punt. To accept it would be bad planning.”

Residents appearing before the committee claimed the scheme would overload village roads and facilities, that it would threaten the Local Plan and that, if agreed, could see the village population increase by 40 per cent in a few years, when other applications were also counted in.

District council Housing briefholder Cllr Tim Yarker usually argues for more accommodation, but as a local councillor said he would not agree to housing at any cost: “ There has been a large groundswell in the village about this scheme…the village wants to be a village and have developments which are appropriate.”

Parish council chairman Mark Simons summed up many of the objections saying the village felt “under siege” at the moment with this application and another at Charminster Farm and elsewhere.

Agent for the developers, Alex Bullock, said the scheme brought with it a guaranteed 35 per cent affordable housing and would help the district meet its shortfall on the target of having 5 years building land.

He said that fears about the views between the development and Wolfeton House could be solved by design solutions and landscaping put in place by applicants, Land Value Alliances.

“The benefits of this scheme outweigh the harm, not the other way around,” he said.