A FAMILY claims they will be thrown out of their home if plans to build a new housing development in Cheltenham are approved.

Sue and Colin Newman, who live in the Rusty Shilling in Up Hatherley, say plans to sell the manor house and its grounds to Redcliffe Homes will leave them destitute.

As revealed in yesterday's Echo the developer wants to build dozens of new properties in the grounds. But the estate's executors, who were asked to find a buyer in the will of Colin's mother Marion Newman, argue they have been trying to reach a compromise with the couple for more than a decade.

Mrs Newman, 62, who also shares the Chargrove Lane house with her adult sons Oliver and Laurence, said: "We are being forced out. We keep animals in our grounds and we will have to move them somewhere else while the building work takes place.

"Then if we have not found somewhere else to go when it is done, we will have to leave and we will be destitute."

The Rusty Shilling has been owned by Mr Newman's family since his grandfather bought the house in 1920.

But when his mother Marion died in 1999, the estate passed into the control of executors Chris Lutton and Simon Fisher under the terms of her will.

The pair have now agreed the sale of the land to Redcliffe if its plans are given the green light by Cheltenham Borough Council's planning committee.

The developer wants to build 39 two, three, four and five-bedroom houses, as well as some flats.

It will also refurbish the main house and rebuild some of the unsafe farm buildings.

Mr Lutton said: "As the executors of the late Marion Newman's will, we have an obligation and duty to sell Manor Farm for the benefit of the beneficiaries in the will, of which Sue Newman is not one. We have been trying for 10 years to reach a suitable agreement with Mrs Newman, but sadly it has still not been possible to agree terms.

"The executors have made generous offers to help her find another property but they have all been rejected."

Redcliffe says its plans for the site would restore the Grade II-listed Rusty Shilling to its former glory but the plan has already been criticised by some residents.

Stuart Fowler, chairman of Up Hatherley Parish Council, said he intends to organise a public meeting for residents to voice their support or objections to the scheme.