RESIDENTS in Morris Green are celebrating after a developer withdrew plans to build new homes in their back gardens.

Peel Holdings had lodged plans with Bolton Council to build 10 modern apartments on land behind nine terraced houses in St Helens Road.

Residents were furious because the plans would have taken away their back gardens which are on land leased to them by Peel Holdings.

And homeowners say they are ready to challenge the Manchester-based property company again if they come back with amended proposals to build on the land.

Bert Millington has grown vegetables in his garden for over 20 years.

He welcomed the decision to withdraw the plans, saying: "The garden is one of the few pleasures that I still enjoy. Without it, my quality of life would substantially decrease.

"But we're afraid now that Peel Holdings will just keep resubmitting the plans until they are eventually passed."

The proposed 0.156-hectare site would have consisted of two separate apartment blocks with spaces for 21 vehicles.

Peel Holdings, which developed The Trafford Centre and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, also proposed creating a parking bay for 150 houses, and carrying out landscaping.

Residents say the decision to withdraw the plans is good news for road safety. They had expressed fears that someone could be killed in St Helens Road as a result of the increased traffic.

One resident said: "It is a dangerous bend and drivers often struggle to see beyond parked cars on the main road. More cars would have made things much worse."

Residents were worried that side streets like Reginald Street and Back St Helens Street, near the proposed development, could have been turned into a rat-run for motorists and put playing children at risk.

A spokesman for Peel Holdings said: "We have withdrawn the planning application as there was insufficient time left to include some minor revisions to our scheme that were required by the council. A new scheme will be resubmitted very shortly that demonstrates the same commitment to high quality development as the original, as well as affording an opportunity to respond to concerns raised by residents."