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Leeds City Council accepted £30,000 over land deal
Phillip Gaunt.
Leeds City Council accepted a £30,000 “goodwill gesture” to overcome objections in relation to a controversial housing development.
The money was given by house builders Taylor Wimpey in relation to the Kirkdales housing estate off Whitehall Road and Dunlop Road, Farnley, in January 2007.
The money exchanged hands after the council threatened legal action against Taylor Wimpey for using a plot of land which was not part of their original planning permission but which they required in order to gain access to the site. Without access to the plot, the housebuilder could not meet its deadline to sell the properties.
In a letter dated January 10, 2007 the developers offered the £30,000 “as a gesture of goodwill” and said if it was not accepted, they would sue the council for damages.
The letter stated: “If the offer is not accepted, we shall have little alternative but to pursue our legal remedies... seeking from the council damages for the losses suffered as a consequence of plot completions on site being delayed.”
In response, Leeds City Council said “the goodwill contribution has been accepted as full and final settlement of any alleged claim by the council”.
The transaction came to light after farmer Phillip Gaunt, 54, of Beulah Farm, Farnley, complained after the developers altered access to a private road leading to his farm when they were developing the site. He said: “When they built the housing estate they altered the course of Wood Lane without permission – that is the only access I have onto my land for large farm vehicles. It is a private road. They did not serve me with planning permission. Now I am unable to take large vehicles up because there is no longer enough room for them to turn in from the main road. According to my deeds, I have a right of access down that road and yet Leeds City Council wanted the developers to close it off completely. It has devalued the farm because we no longer have our own private access.”
Mr Gaunt’s complaint is being dealt with by the Local Government Ombudsman.
A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said a piece of land in question, which was already owned by the council, had to be formally adopted as part of the highway and this incurred an administration and ongoing maintenance cost. They said: “The payment by Taylor Wimpey was made in its capacity as a land owner, for dedicating a small area of council owned land as public highway to satisfy the developer’s obligations.”
Taylor Wimpey failed to comment.
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