Plans to build 60 homes at St Ives Town Football Club have been rejected because of doubts about the club’s ability to deliver the project that would provide it with a new ground.

The club’s bid for outline planning permission for its site in Westwood Road was opposed by neighbours, who said the ground would be over-developed and would add to traffic problems.

Planners at Huntingdonshire District Council listed six reasons why the plan should be refused, including concerns it failed to show the “60 dwellings could be satisfactorily accommodated on the site” and that the scheme would “integrate with the locality”.

St Ives FC had also applied for a new ground in Somersham Road but HDC felt “there is no certainty at this time that these facilities are deliverable”.

Kate Markus, one of the campaigners who lives in Westwood Road, said she was delighted the proposal had been turned down.

“It’s a victory for the campaigners. It seems the council has recognised it’s not a good site for housing, certainly not on this density,” she said.

“It’s also important, though not one of the reasons for refusal, that the school (St Ivo) would like some of the site in case it wants to expand.

“We still have a long term plan. We have also told the council to reconsider the site’s inclusion into the Local Plan to prevent this place from having high density housing and to consider it for old people’s accommodation, which would not attract the same traffic problems, or give land to the school which would benefit the whole town.”

Simon Clark, club secretary, said it was too early to comment on the decision.

A petition against the proposal had more than 220 signatures while more than 50 letters of objection were received. Almost 180 people signed a petition in favour.

The application for St Ives’ new ground is being considered.