A Government minister had to "run for cover" on Monday as she visited a village at the centre of the Bedfordshire 'eco-towns' masterplan.
Caroline Flint, the minister of state for housing and planning, was in Lidlington where she met members of the Lidlington Action Group.
But first she was met by a demonstration by dozens of villagers.
Iain Clapham, chairman of the protest group, said: "I think that it was as a result of the demonstration that Ms Flint agreed to see more villagers than was originally agreed. So instead of two, there were seven of us.
"I think that it had an effect on her. Instead of the planned meet-and-greet photo opportunity at the Forest Centre, the minister virtually had to run for cover after fighting through the protestors."
He added: "She was quite plain that the whole village was designated for housebuilding. Our group was rather shocked that an area that is supposed to become a forest is, in the Government's mind, a forest of houses. We were hoping for trees, rather than houses.
"I think the minister was genuinely shocked at how the current plans would completely consume the village of Lidlington. She did seem to empathise with one particularly impassioned plea from one villager."
Ms Flint's visit related to Government plans to built ten new 'eco-towns' across the country.
Two new villages, Marston Vale and New Marston, could be built on greenfield and brownfield land south of Bedford.
But residents fear the 15,000-plus new homes would destroy the character of Lidlington and other surrounding villages.
Mr Clapham said he was pleased overall with the meeting but said the action group's work was not finished.
He said: "I think in future we will have to become more organised, and work with residents of other villages to preserve the heart of the vale.
"We can see how there would be some sense in having a high-quality eco-town, situated somewhere that villagers can walk to the railway station.
"But the current plans are an eco-con if there is no public transport, no facilities, and people simply commute by car every day to Bedford, Milton Keynes, or the Wixams."
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Urban sprawl fear surrounds eco towns plan'Eco-town' still means thousands of new homes