Earls Court threat as Labour eyes legal challenge

The new Labour authority at Hammersmith & Fulham council has appointed a lawyer to review property deals agreed by the previous Tory administration, in further evidence the council is considering overturning major schemes in the area, including the planned £8bn redevelopment of Earls Court.

The Conservatives lost control of Hammersmith & Fulham council in last week’s local elections.

The incoming Labour party campaigned against the £8bn Earls Court scheme in its election manifesto, promising to renegotiate the deal and protect two council estates that are set to be demolsihed to make way for the development.

The Labour council has appointed Guy Vincent, former managing partner of City law firm Bricham Dyson Bell and a newly elected Labour councillor in Hammersmith, to review property development contracts signed by the Tories.

The Tory administration signed several major deals, including with Stanhope for the redevelopment of the former BBC Television Centre and another for the redevelopment of the Riverside Studios arts complex.

The Earls Court scheme covers 77 acres and will include a 7,500-home neighbourhood, along with offices, leisure, hotel and retail space, a primary school, library, an integrated health centre and five-acre public park.

It received planning permission from the previous Tory-led Hammersmith & Fulham council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which remains Conservative controlled.