A man who claims to have paid £142,000 for the construction of three lodges is suing developer Regency Group International plc and agent Digital Corporation on the ground that they accepted his money without completing the development.
According to a claim issued at London’s High Court and just made publicly available, Donald Lucey paid £142,000 to have the lodges built on three plots at Eden Vista, Retallack Park, Winards, Perch, Newquay, Cornwall.
However, the claim states that although construction was begun on one plot, it was soon abandoned, and no work has been carried out on the other two plots. Lucey is now seeking compensation from Regency Group and Digital Corporation, trading as Rural England Property & Estates.
The claim maintains that Lucey purchased the land after receiving a circular offering the plots as an investment opportunity. It was proposed that the site would be developed as a holiday park, with a lodge on each plot providing rental income for the owner.
Lucey says that he purchased his first plot in August 2000, and bought another two in November 2001. He contends that Regency Group offered a full design-and-build service to construct lodges on the site, and that he paid a total of £142,000 to have his lodges built.
However, he complains that although the companies have cashed his cheques, the proposed lodges have not been built. Lucey says that he terminated the contract in April by asking for his money to be returned.
The claim states that Regency Group has admitted liability but has failed to pay Lucey, and has not made an adequate offer of compensation. Lucey is now seeking the return of his money and suing Regency for damages for breach of contract.
References: PLS News 4/9/03