Some of the country’s biggest regeneration plans and outsourcing deals could be scrapped because of this month’s local election results.
Labour lost 833 seats to rival candidates, many of which were running on “nimby” tickets.
Threatened schemes include the expansion of Stansted airport, which was called for by BAA last week, and plans to redevelop Brighton and Hove’s seafront.
A surprise Labour gain from the Conservatives in Plymouth could also scupper Capital & Regional’s plans in the city.
It has emerged that C&R was in talks to develop and manage a portfolio of shops owned by the council.
The portfolio accounts for most of Plymouth’s town centre.
Sources at Plymouth council said the Conservative’s plans with C&R were unlikely to be adopted by new Labour leader Tudor Evans.
He is said to be personally opposed to the proposal, and it is now more likely that a BID will be set up.
The Liberal Democrats, who romped to victory in Uttlesford in Essex, have promised to throw the council’s weight behind opposition to BAA’s proposed expansion of Stansted airport.
The new council leader, Alan Dean, has vowed to disrupt “airport expansion and unprecedented demands from developers”.
In Brighton, the £30m scheme to redevelop the King Alfred leisure centre, which could include 38-storey towers, was fiercely opposed by Tory, Liberal Democrat and Green Party candidates during the elections.
Labour’s loss of control in the south-coast city could now mean that the two remaining bidders to develop the scheme, Karis/ING and Barratt/ Brunswick, could be dropped.
Brian Oxley, leader of the Conservative faction in the council, said the 400 homes proposed for the site “will have to be built elsewhere”.
References: EGi News 19/05/03
