A parish council is in ‘total opposition’ to a proposal for approximately 200 homes off New Road in Melbourn.

Melbourn Parish Council established the Melbourn Futures Committee which distributed a consultation document to every household in the village so that the entire community could have a say on whether they wanted to see more housing.

The outcome of the consultation exercise was revealed at a packed-out All Saints Hall on Monday evening – and according to the council’s findings, 86 per cent of those surveyed – including individuals, business and schools – were against the proposed development, with just 10 per cent supporting it.

Both Melbourn Village College and Melbourn Primary School supported the proposals.

The council’s response to the plan, which was shaped by the results of the questionnaire, was concluded in this statement: “The Melbourn Futures Committee recommends to council that, given the overwhelming result of the public consultation, Melbourn Parish Council now takes a position of total opposition to the proposed development of the site known as H7 off New Road.”

Melbourn parish councillor Julie Norman said: “There were about 760 responses for the previous consultation in 2013, so we are absolutely overjoyed that the response rate has doubled.

“We now need to gather information which impinges on village life and we need our own solid figures to go forward.”

Melbourn parish councillor Bob Tulloch, who was chairing the meeting, said: “We need all the expertise we can lay our hands on.

“We need to come back knowledgeable to say why we don’t want these houses.

“They will be gathering everything to present their case in due time and we need to do the same.”

District councillor Jose Hales, who represents the Melbourn ward, said: “We want to thank everyone in Melbourn who took part in the consultation.

“People’s participation has enabled us to do this and the response has been incredible.”

Cambridge-based developers Endurance Estates hope to submit a planning application for the site later this year, but had first wanted to consult with people from all sectors of the community.