Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Trinity College faces questions over land now used as an unauthorised caravan site
A field near Hockley in Essex is occupied by several families after unauthorised work began there on August 28.
The land was sold in 2016 to John Eastwood and Rachel Hilden, despite local concerns that it might become an unauthorised site.
Trinity College, part of the University of Cambridge, retains a legal interest in the land and must approve any sale until November 2044.
Rochford Council issued a stop notice and later obtained a High Court injunction barring people from living there or carrying out more development.
A planning application has since been made to allow 15 pitches, each with a mobile home and up to two touring caravans.
The application has drawn more than 100 objections, and local politicians are asking what checks the college made before approving the sale and whether its continuing interest could help resolve the situation.
Trinity College is facing questions over its continuing legal interest in land near Hockley, Essex, that is now an unauthorised caravan site.
The college approved a £100,000 sale of the field in 2016 to John Eastwood and Rachel Hilden, despite local concerns about its possible use as an unofficial pitch.
Unauthorised work on the land began on August 28, and several families remain there despite a council stop notice and a High Court injunction.
Local politicians have asked what checks Trinity carried out before the sale and whether its continuing interest could help clear the site.
A retrospective planning application seeks permission for 15 pitches and has drawn more than 100 objections, according to the article.
- Who
- Trinity College, local politicians and the people occupying the land are involved.
- What
- Trinity is facing questions about its role in a land sale and its continuing legal interest in a field now used as an unauthorised caravan site.
- When
- The sale to John Eastwood and Rachel Hilden took place in 2016. Unauthorised work began on August 28.
- Where
- Land near Hockley, Essex.
- Why
- Local politicians want to know what checks Trinity carried out before the sale and whether its continuing interest could help clear the site.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This could be an issue for further investigation by Rochford Council's planning officers.
I think we need an explanation from the college as to what checks were done and why the sale was allowed. If that sale had not gone through it is unlikely there would be a site there today.
The [district] council is doing all it can now with the injunction, but I think we need to know more about the interest the college retains on the land and what, if anything, extra it could do legally to help clear the site.
The Squiers bought the field from Trinity College.
John Eastwood and Rachel Hilden bought the field from the Squiers for £100,000.
Unauthorised work began on the land near Hockley.
Rochford Council served a stop notice.
Rochford Council secured a High Court injunction banning people from living on the land or developing it further.
- Sale price
- £100,000
- Buyers
- John Eastwood and Rachel Hilden
- College's continuing interest
- Approval required for any sale until November 2044
- Proposed pitches
- 15, each with a mobile home and up to two touring caravans
- Objections
- More than 100 from local residents and local Tory MP Mark Francois
Sources
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