The leader of Winchester city council has resigned just days after a high court judge ruled the authority had acted illegally over TIAA Henderson Real Estate’s £165m Silver Hill scheme.
Justice Lang last week decided that the council had breached European Union procurement rules by allowing the developer to drop affordable housing and a bus station at the scheme and increase the number of private flats and shops.
The high court action was brought and financed by city councillor Kim Gottlieb, who is also managing director of London and Bath Estates, which built the London Octopus in Hammersmith, W14.
Political leaders and senior officers have come under pressure to resign and a notice of no confidence was due to be debated at a council meeting to set the 2015-16 budget on 19 February.
Council leader Robert Humby said: “I stand by the decisions made on Silver Hill. They were taken after consulting with officers and taking external legal advice.
“It is also important to remember that the majority of decisions on Silver Hill were taken long before I was leader. Nevertheless, I was leader when the court decision was handed down and so must take responsibility for that judgment.”
