An independent report into the controversial development of land around Millwall Football Club stadium has found Lewisham Council did nothing wrong in its decision process to grant a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

The 145-page report, published yesterday (November 28) by Lord Dyson, looked into the council’s decisions at all stages of the process relating to CPO powers of land at New Bermondsey where The Den is located.

Millwall FC was highly critical of the process and the decision to grant outline planning permission to developer Renewal.

Its major concern was that the development of land around the stadium would force the club out of the borough and possibly as far as Kent.

There were also concerns over links between developer Renewal and certain Lewisham councillors and officer, as well as allegations against charitable company Surrey Canal Sports Foundation, set up by Renewal, that it falsely claimed it had £2 million in backing from Sport England.

However Lord Dyson, a former Supreme Court judge, inspected everything from the council’s appraisal of the financial viability of Renewal’s scheme to the decision of the Lewisham mayor and cabinet to pledge £500,000 to Surrey Canal Sports Foundation, and in each case found nothing improper in any of the council’s actions.

Earlier this year, on August 4, the Surrey Canal Sports Foundation was cleared of wrongdoing in a case report published by the Charity Commission into allegations of money-laundering, tax avoidance and links with a developer and local officials.

In his report, Lord Dyson stressed that the issue of whether it was right for the land to be sold to the developers was still contentious from a political standpoint, but that there was nothing untoward in the decision to do so.

He also rejected allegations made by Millwall FC, including that the council acted unreasonably in refusing to engage properly with the football club and made unreasonable requests for details of its own development plan.

He said: “The council repeatedly told MFC that it was willing to discuss any proposals MFC might wish to put forward for the development of the Millwall Land, but that it would be necessary for it (MFC) to show that the proposals accorded with, and would enable comprehensive delivery of, the Renewal scheme for the remaining part of the site. MFC never met this requirement.”

“There was nothing to prevent MFC from making a bid for the Millwall Land at any time. If it had done so, the council would have been bound to consider it. But it did not do so.”

Councillor Chris Best, Lewisham Council cabinet spokesperson said in a statement: “Lord Dyson’s inquiry has concluded: ‘there was no impropriety, lack of due diligence or breach of a code of practice on the part of any council officer or councillor in relation to the decisions to make a compulsory purchase order’.

“We now urge all parties involved in the New Bermondsey development to work together to agree a way forward to bring much-needed new jobs and homes to the area and ensure Millwall FC is based in Lewisham for generations to come.”

A spokesperson from Millwall FC said the club needed time to read the report carefully before the club comments on the findings.

He said: “The speed with which Lewisham Council has published information would seem to suggest that they had seen the report in advance and have had time to prepare their commentary.”