Otterpool Park Update: Council have signed two option to purchase land agreements with Sellindge farmers & Price Brothers signed option with Cozumel Estates.

EXCLUSIVE: Updated 17:30 Sat 29th Sept

The Shepwayvox Team can reveal that Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) have signed two option to purchase agreements on land belonging to

1. 1. Michael & Beryl Walker of Somerfield Court Farm, Barrow Hill Sellindge (page 5)

   2. Jo Butcher of Harringe Court Farm, Sellindge. (Page 3)

   3. The Price Brothers, Richard (Jnr) and Christopher have signed an option agreement for their land with the Reuben Brothers BVI vehicle Cozumel Estates. (Page 3)

Land Owned or under Option to Purchase Agreement with Folkestone & Hythe District Council – Google My Maps

Otterpool Park development land

The map is an approximation of the land secured under option agreements for the Walkers and Jo Butcher and also includes the land already owned by F&HDC. The Map does not include the land owned by the Price Brothers who have signed an option to purchase agreement with Cozumel Estates.

What is an Option Agreement

• This is a right which a landowner grants to a developer to ‘opt’ to buy the land from the landowner within a given period of time. In this context the developer generally agrees to apply for planning permission (which they do at their own cost and risk) and the option is in limbo until permission is granted. If the permission is deemed satisfactory, then the developer can ‘exercise its option’ to buy the land, at which point the landowner is contractually bound to sell to the developer, at the price which is agreed, or assessed by a third party if not agreed.

The parcels of land detailed pertain to both the properties and surrounding land for each of the farms. This means they will at some future point be set aside for housing for the Otterpool Park development. No date has been given for when any construction/development would begin.

The first option to purchase agreement was signed with the Walkers of Somerfield Court Farm, Sellindge on the 8th Nov 2017. The second option to purchase agreement was signed with Jo Butcher of Harringe Court Farm, Sellidnge, on the 20 June 2018. The Price Brothers signed their option agreement on the 14 June 2017, so were the first to sell out.

The price offered for the option to purchase agreements is unknown.

The Shepwayvox Team Dissent is NOT a Crime