The Metropolitan Police Authority has failed in its bid to avoid a courtroom battle with Salmon Harvester Properties.
On Friday the High Court dismissed the application to strike out Salmon Harvester’s claim over the sale of the former Bow Street police station in Covent Garden.
Salmon Harvester had agreed to buy the leasehold of the site and existing building for redevelopment as a museum, offices and secure van docking area.
The Met pulled out of the sale, agreed in 2001, after a professional valuation found that the price it would receive was far less than the open market value. The Met declared the agreement ultra vires, meaning it lacked the authority to make the deal.
But Mr Justice Owen said Salmon Harvester’s claim for damages had “a real prospect of success”.
References: EGi News 28/05/04
