The village of New Minas has won the right to expand its boundaries by nearly 400 hectares, across Highway 101.

The new boundary was approved Tuesday by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

The Municipality of the County of Kings opposed the expansion in hearings last June and argued it should control land development. The municipality wanted any projects to be deferred until a planning exercise — called Kings 2050 — is completed by the end of 2014.

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board was not persuaded.

"The village of New Minas has been, and continues to be, a successful form of local government in terms of the services it provides its residents," the board said in its order.

"Accordingly, the board approves the village's application."

Land owners included in the expanded area unanimously asked New Minas to extend its boundary to include their properties. The group — known as Canaan Ridge Property Owners — claimed the county had blocked their attempts to develop the land for 20 years.

The Utility and Review Board accepted evidence from the village that it will be able to supply water, sewer and fire protection to residential developments planned within its expanded border.