A SENIOR Kirklees Council planner is being investigated after it emerged he had connections with a private developer.
Kirklees Council confirmed it was investigating links between its acting principal planning officer Hamish Gledhill and developer Princegate Estates.
Mr Gledhill is believed to have been involved with the company from 2006 to 2008.
Mr Gledhill began work as a senior planning officer at Kirklees in June 2005.
He is believed to have started his involvement with Princegate Estates a year later, when he became the West Yorkshire contact for the developer.
Mr Gledhill is thought to have ended his association with the company in 2008.
The code of conduct governing council officers requires them to get prior approval before taking outside work.
Kirklees confirmed yesterday it had launched an investigation into Mr Gledhill’s links with Princegate.
He has not been suspended, but he is believed to have been withdrawn from working on the controversial Local Development Framework.
The council plan, which has been heavily criticised by some residents’ groups, proposes allowing 28,000 new homes in the district by 2028.
A Kirklees spokesman said yesterday: "We are aware of the connection between our employee and this company.
"The matter is now being investigated according to human resources guidance, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
"However, Princegate Estates have stated they have made no effort to work in Kirklees and have made no land acquisitions in the district."
The Berkshire-based company’s website includes contact details for 15 offices across the country. The nearest to Huddersfield is in Crewe.
However, the "About Princegate" page on the site includes mention of a regional office in West Yorkshire.
The Examiner contacted the company yesterday for a comment. None was forthcoming.
