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Delay means developers cash in to tune of £200k
Peter Devine28/11/2007
STOCKPORT Council tax payers are set to pick up a legal tab of £201,000 after planning officials were found to have delayed two development applications.
The huge bill was agreed by two Stockport developers, Satnam and Morbaine.
The developers took the Council to a three-day hearing over their proposals to site retail, hotel and/or leisure developments at Water Street, Portwood.
The hearing’s planning inspector ruled in favour of the developers, who had complained about the length of time it was taking them to resolve planning applications they had submitted to Stockport Council.
After hearing about the massive legal bill Councillor Phillip Harding, who attended the hearing, has renewed his call for a full investigation be carried out into why councillors were not made aware of the delays with the two applications, which had been delegated previously to council officers.
Coun Harding said: "Stockport Council tax payers have been left with a massive bill and the circumstances should be fully investigated by councillors."
Coun Harding said the latest settlement would see Satnam receive £125,000 while Morbaine would get £60,000, but he said the matter would not end there.
Both planning applications have since been approved.
A Stockport Council spokesman said the local authority has paid costs of £185,000 to Satnam Investments and Morbaine Ltd, and its barrister's fee was £16,000.
Both parties have agreed by Consent Order that no further proceedings will take place in the High Court.
Councillor Sue Derbyshire, executive member for Regeneration, said: "What we did, we did for very good reasons. We are sorry that we lost."
Councillor Kevin Hogg, Chair of the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee, added: "The Council was extremely surprised and disappointed with the Planning Inspector’s decisions.
"Officers followed policies set down by the Council in its Unitary Development Plan and Town Centre Strategy."
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30/11/2007 at 20:21
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I'm going to be monitoring progress on my application to build an international airport in Woodley very closely. I'll be quids in when they delay me!
4/12/2007 at 13:12