Desmond told Jenrick delay would cost project £45m
ROBERT JENRICK put through approval for a controversial housing development after receiving a text message from a Conservative Party donor telling him that delays would “cost £45 million”.
The Housing Secretary last night released a tranche of documents including text messages between himself and Richard Desmond, the media tycoon, relating to his decision to approve the £1billion development in east London
In the exchange, initiated by Mr Jenrick after the pair met at a fundraising dinner, the former Daily Express owner complained about the “Marxist” council that had turned down his application to build 1,500 homes in Westferry.
He also questioned the minister on the progress of the case and reminded him of the date a new community infrastructure levy came into force, which would have cost him up to £50million.
Emails between officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government say the secretary of state was “insistent” that a decision was made before the changes on Jan 15.
The day before, officials rushed to organise the final decision on the appeal by 5pm. Twenty minutes before the deadline, it was finally approved.
The release of the documents, aimed at quashing accusations of “cash for favours”, after it emerged Mr Desmond had personally given the Conservative Party £12,000 two weeks after the scheme for 1,500 homes was approved, are likely to lead to further questions.
They include text messages exchanged between Mr Jenrick and Mr Desmond shortly after the Tory Party fundraiser in Nov 2019 during which Mr Jenrick has admitted to being shown plans for the development on Mr Desmond’s mobile phone.
In one exchange, two days later, Mr Desmond tried to arrange a meeting with Mr Jenrick and on Dec 19, as well as a site visit to the Westferry Printworks. He wrote: “Good news finally the inspectors reports have gone to you today, we appreciate the speed as we don’t want to give Marxists loads of doe for nothing!”
That day, Mr Jenrick first asked his officials to flag the case to civil servants. He also replied to Mr Desmond declining a meeting until after a decision had been made due to his position.
On Dec 23, Mr Desmond texted again asking: “How does the advice look? We have to get the approval before January 15 otherwise payment of 45 million pounds to tower hamlets meaning we have to stop and reduce social housing”.
Mr Jenrick informed his colleagues he wished to approve the application, overturning the recommendation of the inspector, on Dec 28.
Last night Mr Jenrick insisted that Mr Desmond had no influence on his decision.
In a letter accompanying the documents he attacked Tower Hamlets council over delays in processing the application for more than six months. He said there was “no bias in favour of the developer” in pushing through the decision and if he had not done so “the viability of the scheme might be compromised”.
“Any personal financial benefit for the parties involved in the development played absolutely no part in my consideration,” he said.
The £12,000 Mr Desmond gave to the Tory party was for “tickets to a Conservative social event”, he added.
After the documents were published the Cabinet Secretary wrote to Labour’s Steve Reed saying that “in light of this account, the Prime Minister considers that the matter is closed”.