MEMBERS of an eco-community on Dartmoor have won their battle to continue living there — for another five years at least.

The Steward Community Woodland, near Moretonhampstead, is home to 12 adults and eight children.

The site was established nine years ago for people who want to lead a more sustainable way of life.

Residents manage the woodland and hold courses, as well as doing other types of work to generate income for a communal kitty to run the site.

However, temporary planning permission for the 32-acre site ran out in September 2007. Dartmoor National Park refused to renew permission but its decision has now been overturned on appeal by a planning inspector.

Melanie Davis, one of the members of the community, said they were "absolutely over the moon" at the decision.

She said: "It's been a long process and there was a lot of work involved in getting here.

"We want to show the National Park Authority that we're a sustainable community and have an educational role," said Ms Davis.

Living in homes made from recycled materials such as wood, canvas, blankets, boards and old windows, the residents have no mains services apart from a phone line.

Water comes from a spring and electricity is generated through solar panels and a micro hydro system which uses water from the spring to power a turbine.

"We're a good example of how people can lead a low-impact lifestyle — not just people who want to live an alternative lifestyle like us, but we can show people steps they can take back with them to their normal, everyday lives," said Ms Davis.

Planning officers at the National Park Authority reacted with shock to the decision.

Chris France, director of planning at Dartmoor National Park, said: "We feel it's the wrong decision — I can't understand the reasons for this decision."

He added that he did not feel the community had justified its reasons for needing to live in the open countryside of Dartmoor.

But the planning inspector seemed to have come to the conclusion that the community's educational role outweighed any other concerns.

The authority will consider its official response at a meeting today.

Mr France said the authority now had two options — to launch a judicial review or appeal to the high court.

Meanwhile, the community is holding an open day tomorrow from noon to 4pm, when visitors can find out more about how they live.