Council to keep land Lex Greensill was set to buy

A council is set to retain land it originally planned to sell to a financier whose company was involved in a Westminster lobbying scandal.

Cheshire West and Chester Council had previously agreed to sell land at Shotwick Park in Saughall, near Chester, to Lex Greensill, who had said he wanted to create a “natural sanctuary for wildlife” but is now set to approve plans to turn it into woodland.

In a report to councillors, the authority said retaining the land would support its aims to become carbon neutral by 2045.

Lex Greensill, who founded Greensill Capital, said he had decided to withdraw from the plans “for now”, and said the project had “become a point of division”.

Cheshire West and Chester Council had approved plans to sell the land to the financier in February 2021, but it was never completed.

In April of that year, Cheshire West and Chester Council said that "in the light of well-publicised concerns about the buyer’s business interests and relationships with national politicians", the "sale process was paused" to allow auditors to review the transaction to ensure it acted with "integrity".

Greensill Capital had collapsed a few weeks before that with more than 300 jobs lost in Cheshire.

In council documents, Cheshire West and Chester Council said it had paused the sale process to Mr Greensill while “further assurances were sought from the buyer in relation to their commitment to deliver on the declared intentions for this land and to engage with local people”.

The authority added that there had been a number of changes since the decision was made three years ago, including a new borough plan and its commitment to become carbon neutral.

In a statement on his website, Mr Greensill said the plans to buy the site had been “complex”.

“Along the way I’ve realised that, despite support from so many of you, some voices feel left out of the process.

“This project, which was always meant to bring us together and foster environmental stewardship, has unfortunately become a point of division. As a family, we don’t want any conflict within the community we care so much about.

“My hope is that one day, Shotwick Park Estate will be a place of flourishing nature and biodiversity, a sanctuary we can all enjoy and take pride in. I sincerely hope Cheshire West and Chester Council can find a path forward that resonates with everyone.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet will discuss the plans later.

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