A CAMBRIDGE college has invested in the future of Dunsfold Park, the home of BBC's Top Gear' in a surprise move.

Airfield owner The Rutland Group, which bought the site in 2002, has entered into a new long-term partnership with Trinity College Cambridge.

Rutland Group chief executive Jim McAllister said: "We wanted to find a partner with the same long-term aims and Trinity College will be the perfect partner to develop the site over the next 15 to 20 years."

Mr McAllister said the college had already acquired the company that owned Dunsfold Airport.

The college stated it had entered into "asset management and promotional agreements" with Rutland Group to manage and develop the estate through its subsidiary Dunsfold Airport Ltd.

The total land involved includes the 516-acre airfield, 65 acres of commercial space and 30 acres of land allocated for a solar farm and an anaerobic digestion plant. There is also agricultural land totalling 286 acres in four parcels.

Dunsfold Park is the largest brownfield site in Waverley and a college spokesman said: "There is an opportunity to extend the business park, build new homes, or expand the airfield business."