Chris and Sally Hawkeswell face an uncertain future

The farmer displaced from the land that the new Heslington East development will be built on has reacted angrily to the government’s decision to approve the expansion.

Chris Hawkeswell and his family, who have been farming the land east of Heslington Village since 1957, are considering appealing against the decision and are currently taking legal advice.

Hawkeswell also spoke out about his treatment by the University during the planning process. He describes their behaviour as “quite disgusting,” saying that he’s had “had very little contact at all on the situation from them, only demanding access when they need it and never asking.”

Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, councillor for Heslington, said “The University will be pleased, but there will be many people in the village who won’t be pleased. So from one perspective it’s good, from another perspective it’s not what people wanted.”

Halifax Estates, the company that manages the leasehold, have offered Hawkeswell the equivalent of six years’ rent in compensation, which he says will not make up for the loss of livelihood or the emotional distress he suffered. “At the end of the day, I’d sooner not have any compensation and carry on farming the lands I am,” he said.

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