NHS trust to pay £35k to council after legal battle
AN NHS trust has been ordered to pay Harborough District Council thousands of pounds in legal fees after losing a court battle.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust took legal action after it was awarded no money to deal with the pressures created by a housing development near Lutterworth.
Health bosses demanded that Leicestershire County Council, the developer of the 2,750-home Lutterworth East scheme, pay £1 million to help offset the extra demand it would create for health services.
When this request was denied by Harborough District Council, the NHS trust mounted a legal case in the High Court to get the money, but the challenge was dismissed.
High Court judge Mr Justice Holgate said the hospitals trust failed to establish that there would be a “funding gap” as a result of the development.
This meant that the trust would not receive the requested £1 million in developer funding and was forced instead to contribute £35,000 to the district council’s legal fees.
Richard Mitchell, chief executive of the trust, reacted to the judge’s ruling, which also blocked the right to appeal.
Mr Mitchell said: “We are disappointed in the outcome and will be taking the time to review the judgement contents in detail before considering our next steps as a trust.”
Planning permission was given for the Lutterworth East scheme in 2020 and will involve building thousands of homes, a village centre, two primary schools, parks and sports grounds.
The backers said they hope the
BID FOR £1M TO HELP PAY FOR NEW HOMES’ DEMAND ON SERVICES scheme will create 2,500 jobs, and the judge refused permission for the that 40 per cent of the homes will be trust to appeal his decision. classified as affordable. “The council hopes that the trust
A spokesman for Harborough now accepts the outcome. District Council said that the judge’s “We wish to thank Leicestershire decision was welcomed. County Council for its support.
He said: “The council is pleased “We will now focus on delivering the court has ordered the trust much-needed homes, businesses, should contribute to the council’s schools and infrastructure sustainably costs of defending the claim and that at Lutterworth East.”