Three hundred people signed a petition against the development of Field 91 off Grande Route de la C?te, and in May 80 people staged a protest on the coast road against plans to build homes on the field behind Avalon Park.
Their case was taken up by parish Deputy Ian Gorst, who asked States Members to agree that the Environment Minister should ask the States to designate it an important open space.
However, States Members voted against his proposal by 27 votes to 14, with eight abstentions, and agreed that the site should stay as it is.
St Clement Deputy Gerard Baudains and parish Constable Derek Gray both voted for Deputy Gorst’s proposition, with Environment Minister Freddie Cohen and the members of the planning applications panel abstaining from the vote.
Field 91 was situated in the built-up area in the 2002 Island Plan, meaning that development would normally be permitted.
Developer G R Langlois had initially intended to put 20 two-bedroom homes on the site, but they have since reduced the planned number of homes to 12 three-bedroom houses.
This plan is the subject of a current planning application.
