'Illegal' traveller plot was listed for sale on Facebook

John Fairhall/BBC

A caravan plot on a field that was allegedly concreted over illegally by travellers has been listed for sale on Facebook, the BBC has discovered.

The four-acre (1.6ha) site has been the subject of an ongoing row with people living in the rural hamlet of Willows Green, near Felsted in Essex, since 1 May.

One of its 12 plots was advertised to buyers online for an undisclosed price and described as being close to Braintree and London Stansted Airport.

The seller, from Milton Keynes, was contacted for comment but did not respond.

Facebook

Residents have already described seeing a "military operation" of about 30 lorries delivering fencing, hardcore and septic tanks to the site while under the cover of darkness.

Conservative Braintree MP Sir James Cleverly accused those responsible of "gaming the system" by carrying out the work on a bank holiday weekend when Uttlesford District Council's offices were shut.

In posts on Facebook from March, seen by the BBC, the plot-seller asked for help from truck drivers.

"About 20 trucks - we've got 120/150 loads we need collected from Dagenham (east London)," they wrote.

"If you can supply the amount of trucks and able to do the job, give me a private message."

Locals have claimed that rare albino deer, great crested newts and badgers all roamed the field prior to it being built on.

Uttlesford District Council described it as an "alleged unauthorised development" and ordered work be stopped on Wednesday.

The authority refused to give planning permission for a three-bedroom log cabin on the field in February.

In its ruling, a planning officer said the build would "significantly harm the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside".

According to the council's planning website, there are no applications pending for construction on the field.

The agricultural land was purchased by UK Real Estate and Land 2 Limited at a cost of £125,000 on 30 April 2025, public records showed.

The BBC has not been able to contact the company, which, according to Companies House, dissolved two days before the deal went through.

Google

The BBC has not had a response from the Facebook seller, but traveller rights campaigner Sherrie Smith said they were "trying to be as accommodating and friendly" as they could.

She said they had stopped construction and wished to comply with the council's order to stop work at the site.

Smith, who founded Gypsy and Travellers Essex, claimed planning processes often discriminated against her community and that seeking retrospective permission was seen as a better alternative.

When asked if the travellers would restore the land if their retrospective application was refused, Smith insisted they would.

According to council meeting papers, 35 traveller pitches were needed across the Uttlesford district as of December.

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