Fletcher launches legal action against council over arena
PROPERTY developer Jan Fletcher has launched legal action against Leeds City Council over its decision on the site of the city’s new 12,500-seat arena.
Mrs Fletcher, who runs Montpellier Estates, is challenging the city council in the High Court over its move to build the arena on land on Claypit Lane rather than on sites proposed by private developers.
Montpellier Estates proposed a site in Sweet Street, Holbeck, while developer Peter Gilman’s GMI was behind plans for a site at Elland Road.
Those were believed to be the only two sites under consideration until the council’s surprise decision in November to choose land it owned plus an adjoining site owned by Leeds Metropolitan University beside the city’s inner ring road.
Leeds City Council has confirmed it has received a damages claim over the choice of a site in Claypit Lane alleging “…that the council breached its statutory duties in relation to the public procurement exercise which the council decided to terminate in November, on value for money grounds”.
The council has insisted it strongly denied any breach and would be vigorously defending any claim. It said it would continue to work on its plans for the arena.
In a statement Montpellier Estates said: “Montpellier Estates can confirm that it has issued proceedings against Leeds City Council in connection with the competition to award a contract to develop the Leeds Arena. Montpellier has issued the proceedings to obtain information from LCC that Montpellier is entitled to, has requested and that LCC has refused to disclose. Montpellier regrets that LCC left it with no alternative to issuing proceedings. The proceedings necessarily involve the choice of the Clay Pit Lane site as the site for the Leeds Arena. As the matter is sub-judice Montpellier can make no further comment on the matter.”
Jan Fletcher, chairman of Montpellier, said: “It is with great regret, that Leeds City Council have left us with no alternative, other than to take this action. No-one could be more passionate about the success of both Leeds and Yorkshire than I am. I have fought tirelessly to support Leeds in becoming an internationally competitive city and will continue to do so.”
