JUNE 24 2020 – “ROBERT JENRICK TO RELEASE DOCUMENTS ON CONTROVERSIAL £1BN PROPERTY DEAL APPROVAL, AFTER PRESSURE” – SKY NEWS

Robert Jenrick

Robert Jenrick to release documents on controversial £1bn property deal approval after pressure

The housing secretary faces accusations of “cash for favours” over the Westferry Printworks Development in east London.

Britain's Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick arrives at number 10 Downng Street in central London on March 17, 2020, ahead of a meeting of the Cabinet. - Britain stepped up its response to coronavirus, recommending household isolation, home-working and an end to mass gatherings to try to stem an accelerating outbreak. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Robert Jenrick has denied any impropriety

 

The housing secretary has bowed to pressure to release documents related to his controversial approval of a £1bn property development involving a Tory Party donor.

Robert Jenrick said most of the papers would be published later on Wednesday, after Labour held a debate calling for all correspondence on the Westferry Printworks Development in east London to be put into the public domain.

He has faced accusations of “cash for favours” after it emerged the developer, former Daily Express owner Richard Desmond, had personally given the Conservative Party £12,000 two weeks after the scheme for 1,500 homes was approved.

 

A view of the Westferry Printworks site on the Isle of Dogs, east London. The 1 billion Westferry Printworks redevelopment scheme in east London was controversially approved in January by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, against the recommendation of a planning inspector. The decision has since been reversed after legal action by Tower Hamlets Council, which had voiced concerns over the size of the development when the plans were first submitted in 2018.
Image:The Westferry Printworks site on the Isle of Dogs, east London

Labour said the timing of the decision – just a day before a new community infrastructure levy came into force – would have saved Mr Desmond’s Northern and Shell company up to £50m.

The party claims the cabinet minister overruled his advisers to reduce the amount of affordable housing required in the development, potentially saving Mr Desmond a further £106m.

Mr Jenrick originally approved the plan in January this year, overruling both Tower Hamlets Council and a planning inspector.

He subsequently reversed the ruling following legal action by the council, admitting that what he did was “unlawful by reason of apparent bias”.

More from Politics

  • Robert Jenrick: Bundle of documents reveal texts with ex-media mogul Richard Desmond in ‘cash for favours’ row

  • It later emerged that Mr Jenrick had sat next to Mr Desmond at a Conservative Party fundraising dinner in November 2019.
Health Lottery owner Richard Desmond takes part in a 'Lets Get Cooking' session, at Twickenham Academy, in Twickenham, London, which aims bring young people together and give them the practical skills, knowledge and confidence to cook and enjoy food.
Image: Developer Richard Desmond is a Tory Party donor

 

Earlier this month, the housing secretary told the Commons that Mr Desmond had tried to raise the scheme with him during the dinner, but he had told the businessman he could not discuss it.

Mr Jenrick said he took the decision to approve the scheme “in good faith with an open mind”, and he was confident that “all the rules were followed”.

However Mr Desmond told The Sunday Times last weekend that he had shown Mr Jenrick a promotional video for the scheme on his mobile phone during the fundraiser at the Savoy Hotel.

Mr Jenrick said there was “nothing rotten” about the deal and he would release “most” of the documents to the benchmark of what would normally be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, he called the allegations against him “a series of totally inaccurate statements and comments”.

“This was a decision taken with an open mind,” he added.

 

MORE INFORMATION

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/robert-jenrickrichard-desmond-texts_uk_5ef399cdc5b643f5b22e687e?ncid=news-aol

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53172995

 

JUNE 21 2020 – “‘I FOLLOWED THE RULES’, SAID HOUSING SECRETARY ROBERT JENRICK – THEN ADMITTED HE DIDN’T” – THE TIMES