Tenants to be evicted so land can offset housing

A tenant who has held grazing land for almost 50 years has been told he must vacate the site so it can be rewilded to offset a controversial housing development.

Steve Hawkins, 61, was one of three tenants either side of Victory Park in Brislington, south Bristol, who were given two weeks notice that their current leases would be terminated.

The land is adjacent to the Brislington Meadows - a beauty spot locked in a row over planning permission after the government won the right to build 260 homes by taking its application directly to appeal.

The council said it was a requirement of the development that "natural habitats are created or enhanced" to achieve a net gain in biodiversity.

Hawkins, whose father took on the lease 46 years ago, said he was "devastated" by the council's decision, adding: "Our life's been there - our life and our horses have been there all that time."

He said some of his horses might have to be put down as the older ones would not cope with being moved to a new location.

The three tenants were told in mid-December their lease agreements would come to an end on Christmas Day, but that they could continue to use the land until 14 November this year.

Sue Wedmore, 61, who has held the land for 29 years, said: "We're getting punished so (the developer) can build houses where houses should never be."

She added the site was full of memories of her four children's childhood, including that of her daughter, who died 13 years ago aged just 24.

"I would be absolutely gutted if I lose this land. I've still got one of my daughter's horses," she said.

Wedmore also believes she might have to have some of her horses euthanised if she can not find alternative grazing for them.

Tenant Rob Cheesley, 68, who has been on the land for 28 years, was equally surprised by the council's decision.

"We've never missed a payment, we've always kept the land well maintained, and I'm gutted, devastated, that we're going to lose it just like that," he said.

"At the wave of a hand, it can be taken away."

The Brislington Meadows is a site of nature conservation interest (SNCI) and it is a requirement of the development that new natural habitats are created or enhanced to offset the biodiversity that will be lost if it is built on.

Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the council's public health and communities committee, said: "To ensure the area is available to begin the new land management approach that will improve the site for nature, achieving a gain of at least 10% in biodiversity, the tenants have been given notice to vacate the land.

"Decisions on the amount of land required and exactly how it will be managed for the benefit of nature and wildlife are still being finalised."

Homes England, the government's land and property agency, bought part of the site from the council, while the rest was purchased from private owners.

In April last year, Homes England announced it had appointed developer Keepmoat to build on the site.

The council still has to decide whether to give the project permission to go ahead based on a reserved matters application, which contains the full details of the development.

The plans currently have more than 250 objections on the council's planning portal.

Conservation organisation Bristol Tree Forum said it was premature to start evicting tenants, saying: "It is by no means certain that Keepmoat's plans will be approved."

Spokesman Mark Ashdown added: "We do not even know if this offsetting proposed is required or appropriate. Even if it is, there is no reason why the tenants cannot remain - appropriate grazing is an established conservation management technique."

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