Police will investigate claims that Liverpool Council rigged the public inquiry surrounding the new Redrow development at Allerton Priory. It is understood that the potential rigging on the enquiry may have cost the city £100,000.
The Council’s solicitor has told a planning committee that both the police and the local authority itself will investigate the claims that a review to block the new build estate was influenced by members of council stagg.
The solicitor said “There will be an investigation carried out. One by the council, one by the police”.
The council have said that it has not actually received any formal evidence of the complaint at this time.
The planning inquiry was won by Redrow which has left the council with a colossal bill and Allerton Priory open to development.
The total cost of the inquiry was £101,060. Of this amount, £1,150 was spent on refreshments.
The accusations and investigation came to light during a council meeting held yesterday. In an email it states that there are two witnesses to the incident that show that the council deliberately “threw” the Allerton Priory Public Inquiry.
It is alleged that a senior council member purposefully allowed information to be public outside of the three week public inquiry window.
A member of the Liberal Democrats stated that the council did not put up enough of a fight against the development and that important information relating to the plans were not given to inspectors.
Despite the allegations, the planning committee has passed the controversial plans to build 100 homes on Allerton Priory.