But furious campaigners against the scheme on the Erddig Estate have today claimed a moral victory despite the plans being passed over the weekend.

A motion to halt the building of 223 new homes in Rhostyllen was voted for by National Trust members 14,318 to 14,139 at the organisation's AGM, in Liverpool, on Saturday.

But the Trust's chairman used a discretionary block vote of 8,019 to push the proposals through.

A lobby was held outside the trust's annual general meeting.

Marc Jones, a local Plaid Cymru councillor who proposed the move, said the planned housing estate on green fields would increase the village's population by a third and has been described as totally unsustainable by local residents.

He said: "The National Trust was formed to protect and conserve, not bulldoze local communities. It is in danger of being seen as an arrogant, remote and bullying organisation.

"The local community has voted decisively against the development in a local referendum. The Trust is now seen as little more than an arrogant lord of the manor by local people, and deservedly so."

The motion was seconded by Arfon Jones, who told the 600-strong audience: "I didn't join the National Trust to become a property developer."

He added: "I joined the National Trust many years ago because I admired their aim of protecting our heritage and conserving our 'green and pleasant land' for use by future generations."

Cllr Carrie Harper, a long standing campaigner against the scheme said: "We were fully prepared for the Trust chairman using this block vote so this is just another step in our campaign.

"The vote just goes to show how much support we had from the National Trust members and we are now planning to call an extraordinary general meeting in the new year."

Iwan Huws, the National Trust's director for Wales said: "The proposed development is needed to provide for the long term future of the hall at Erddig and its surrounding parkland.

"We have worked with the local community and its elected officials to ensure that the proposal meets the needs of the local area, both in terms of the type of housing and the facilities that are needed.

"The proposals are going through the democratic planning process, with the council's planning committee due to consider the proposals for the second time in the near future.

"Whilst the proposals have received strong support from parts of the local community, including the local Community Council, there have also been strong objections from others.

"We appreciate that development of this nature will rarely be universally welcomed, and fully respect the right of people to express their views in this way.

"We are pleased that our members have had the opportunity to consider and debate the proposals in this way."

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