Prime Minister Boris Johnson's old school, Eton College, wants to build houses on a field in Seaview despite receiving a formal warning after it cut down a 150-year-old oak tree.

In September last year, Seaview residents were in uproar after they saw much-loved trees, including the oak, felled on the land known locally as Donkey Field.

The trees did not have protection orders in place but due to the size of the historic tree, locals believed a felling licence was necessary.

The investment manager of the Eton College Endowment's property portfolio, Clearbell, said it was satisfied the trees were legitimately felled as they were unprotected and below the threshold required for a felling licence.

Isle of Wight County Press:

In a letter obtained by campaign group, Save the Donkey Field, the Forestry Commission (FC) formally warned the school about the alleged felling.

The FC said having considered all the circumstances, no further action should be taken but did advise of the consequences should unlicensed felling take place.

The authority said it had the power to refer matters for criminal investigation and prosecution by a magistrate, potentially leading to the Proceeds of Crime Act being applied to any financial gain made on the land which would be seen as a result of illegal activity.

To save other trees on the site, residents successfully obtained tree protection orders from the Isle of Wight Council.

Isle of Wight County Press:

At the time, the council said while the order did not stop planning applications being put forward, it could ensure trees are part of the planning discussion.

Clearbell said in October last year the site had been deemed suitable for up to 12 houses in the council's strategic housing land availability assessment process.

The removal of the tree was to clear access into the site.

Now, a public notice, in the back of today's (Friday) Isle of Wight County Press, Eton College says it is intending to submit a planning application for nine homes on the site, to the rear of Solent View Road, but wants other owners or tenants of the land to come forward.

No date for when that application may be submitted has been given.

A spokesperson from Clearbell said the current significant underdevelopment of housing on the Island, with the council being told to presume in favour of sustainable development, was noted and it hoped the application would help meet the need for housing on the Island.

The majority of the nine homes, Clearbell said, would be two or three-bed homes, aligning with the requirements of the Island's housing needs assessment.

Isle of Wight County Press: The oak tree as shown behind the shed, by Google Maps, in 2009.The oak tree as shown behind the shed, by Google Maps, in 2009.

It hoped to bring forward the development in a sustainable and traditional manner, incorporating a design that fits comfortably within the locality.

The landscaping scheme is said to improve the existing habitat and ecology, linking into the accent woodland.

The spokesperson said: "As an educational charity, Eton College would use proceeds from the development to continue to fund its educational financial aid programme and its network of school and youth club partners."