Developer ends High Court action against county council over garden village plans

A developer has dropped a High Court action against Northumberland County Council over the handling of plans for a 2,000 homes garden village.

Part of Lugano Property Group had sought £10m damages from the council and leader Peter Jackson, cabinet member for planning John Riddle and chief executive Daljit Lally.

It had alleged that the council acted improperly and unlawfully over the planning application involved for Dissington Garden Village, which was later withdrawn.

A Northumberland County Council spokesperson said: "We welcome the confirmation this legal action has been discontinued. The allegations, which we always vehemently denied, were very serious in nature and contained many inappropriate, untrue and defamatory statements against both council officers and members.

"While the council acted with dignity throughout, the way these allegations were made in public was extremely unprofessional. We will now be considering our next steps."

Cllr Jackson told the BBC that the council would pursue Lugano Dissington Estate Ltd for “very substantial legal costs”.

Lugano began the proceedings in July 2018, when its chairman Richard Robson said: “These matters are of the upmost seriousness but unfortunately to date we have not had any assurances from the council that our concerns have been properly addressed.

“While Northumberland County Council have referred to an investigation into some aspects of our case, we consider that investigation to have been neither independent nor comprehensive, and despite the council relying on it, thus far they have refused to release details to support their position. Our offers to meet and discuss our concerns on a ‘without prejudice’ basis have also been declined.

“Accordingly and with regret, we have no option but to commence formal legal proceedings against the authority and individuals concerned.”

Mark Smulian