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Council complaint against developer PR campaign rebuffed
A council’s official complaint against a PR company for allegedly “misleading” residents about its plans for a site has been rejected.
Lambeth Council lodged a complaint with the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), the governing body for PR organisations, over the Built Environment Communications Group’s (BECG) campaign.
Working on behalf of developer Be Living, the BECG has been warning residents living near a disused railworks site in Tulse Hill that the authority could plan to turn it into an industrial area.
Be Living wants to build homes on the site, but has been unable to agree with the council on a level of affordable housing provision.
However, the PRCA has dismissed the council’s complaint that BECG is trying to “misrepresent” the council’s proposals.
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The body ruled that the BECG “has conducted itself in respect of the truth and with a proper regard to the public interest”.
A spokesperson for Lambeth Council said: “We are disappointed that the PRCA has decided not to take the complaint forward.
“However it remains false to suggest Lambeth Council is proposing opening a waste or recycling facility at Knollys Yard. We believe it is misleading to present this as a realistic alternative to private developer Be Living’s housing proposal.”
A spokesperson for the BECG said: “BECG is pleased to note that the trade body for communications practitioners in the UK, the PRCA, has reviewed a complaint against BECG from Lambeth Council and has dismissed it as without foundation.”
