WRENTHAM - Much to the delight of many residents and local officials, plans have been dropped for a 200-unit apartment complex off South Street that would have been by far the largest housing complex in town.

Representatives of developer Fairfield Associates of Framingham have informed the town they no longer intend to pursue the plans that were first proposed last year and sparked an outcry from neighbors.

The affordable housing development would have been located on about 10 acres adjacent to Northland Farm nursery and south of Wampum Corner. The Route 1A land is just north of Wrentham Village Premium Outlets.

"I think it is a combination of factors," Angus Jennings, a planning consultant hired by the town, said of the development being dropped. "The real estate market isn't as strong as it was, but I have been told there is a very strong demand for rental housing.

"I think they knew they had a fight on their hands. There was a lot of opposition," Jennings said.

Along with neighbors, selectmen and other town boards and department heads had expressed concerns about traffic and the development's potential effect on schools and other town services. "That would have cost the town millions of dollars," resident and former planning board member Steven Marian said.

The project would have fallen under the state 40B affordable housing statue because at least 25 percent of the two- and three-bedroom units were going to be considered affordable. Such projects can skirt most local zoning and boards, but neighbors contended too many units were planned for too small an area.

Residents and town officials had written letters to the state indicating their concerns.

"I think the town can anticipate it is going to continue to see developers interested," Jennings said of the parcel.

The land, almost across from the former Marra property that the town took ownership of for back taxes, is owned by Thomas Diplacido Jr. There are a couple of houses on the property.