Tower row intensifies as more buyers sue

Purchasers of flats in the City Lofts project, now known as the St Paul’s Tower in Sheffield city centre, say what has been delivered by the builders does not match the original specification.

One couple who bought a penthouse apartment at an agreed price of £337,000 have now had an independent valuation of £160,000 – a figure they described as “shocking and disappointing”.

Peter and Valerie Harpham are members of the St Paul’s Action Group, which as the Yorkshire Post reported in October last year, is taking action against the firm City Lofts over its handling of the building.

The £38m 32-storey block, which was first marketed in 2006 as the city’s tallest and most iconic building, had suffered a series of setbacks during construction, including a lack of cash.

It was saved with a loan from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, but problems also arose when the developer decided to change the type of cladding that was being used on the building.

This led to a further delay after city planners demanded that work on the building stop until the cladding was agreed, and people who had expected to move in at the end of 2008 ended up getting their keys last autumn.

A City Lofts spokesman said the vast majority of buyers had been more than happy with their apartments and the quality of the building and design.

“People who bought prior to the financial crisis have sadly, like many other individuals and companies across the country, seen a fall in previous values.

“But St Paul’s is an iconic landmark. It is attracting significant interest from people who recognise that it offers excellent potential for future growth,” he said.