Labour agrees controversial bidder for regeneration plans in private

Local Lib Dem councillors have expressed concerns after the Labour-run Haringey Council met in private and decided to select Lendlease as the developer who will jointly own with the council £2bn of public property. Labour plan to put the property into a company jointly owned with the developer. The Labour-run council will then use the company to rebuild estates and build new homes.

Cllr Gail Engert, Haringey Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition, comments:

“I am horrified that arguably one of the most important decisions that the council will ever make, was made in private. It shows the democratic deficit and lack of transparency that I have come to expect from this Labour-run council.

“The Liberal Democrats are opposed to the Haringey Development Vehicle and Labour’s plans to put £2bn of public property including council homes, civic buildings and offices across the borough into a company jointly owned with Lendlease. We have concerns about the chosen developer too, as they recently rebuilt a council estate in Southwark which had relatively few social rented homes on site.

“The Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign to stop these plans. We will also continue to push the Labour-run council to listen to the recommendations of the cross-party scrutiny committee and give all councillors a vote on this issue at a Full Council meeting. This decision is far too big and far too important to be taken by a handful of Labour Cabinet members”

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