 Protesters have been in their tree village for nearly four months |
Ancient trees could be spared the axe as a controversial housing development no longer requires associated road improvements, two councils have said. West Sussex and Worthing councils said government advice meant Titnore Lane would not now have to be straightened as part of the West Durrington scheme.
It could mean about 210 out of 265 threatened trees being reprieved.
Tree-top protesters who set up camp in Titnore Woods said they would only leave if all the trees were saved.
They have been making their voices heard since the end of May from tree houses built in the ancient woodland.
 About 55 trees are still threatened by an access road off Titnore Lane |
The proposals for 875 new homes and associated community facilities originally required highway improvement works in Titnore Lane, including the straightening of a bend at South Lodge.
Now the councils will ask the developers - the Heron Group, Persimmon Homes and Bryant Homes - to remove this aspect from their plans in the light of new government guidance.
This would "significantly reduce the environmental impact" because more than 200 trees beside Titnore Lane would not need to be removed.
But protesters said they would continue their campaign, described as "a defiant act" over "a huge juggernaut of property development".
Landowner Clem Somerset won a court ruling in July for them to be evicted, although the bailiffs have yet to move in.
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