A fraud investigation into a Haringey Council development scheme remains open and active, more than a year after the Ham&High revealed it was underway.  

Nobody has been arrested, said the Metropolitan Police Service, but “enquiries continue”. 

The case relates to a former council plan to demolish a row of houses in Muswell Hill to facilitate a new housing development. 

However, the precise nature of the alleged fraud is not known. 

“We can confirm that officers from the Met’s North Area Command are investigating allegations of fraud received in March 2021 that relate to a housing development in Haringey,” was all the force would say on Thursday (February 2). 

It is not known who reported the alleged fraud to police. 

The Ham&High revealed last February that some Haringey councillors had undergone voluntary police interviews.  

The newspaper had learned the identity of one of the questioned councillors, but they asked not to be named, claiming they would fear for their safety if identified. 

The case is connected to Haringey Council’s redevelopment of the former Cranwood care home, which has since been demolished to make way for flats. 

The council granted itself planning permission last year. 

But the council’s original plan had been to demolish some adjacent houses as well. 

It purchased one of them – valued at £850,000 – for £2.15 million in 2019. 

The council then U-turned over the proposed demolition of the houses and decided not to purchase any other properties.  

One owner filed a complaint with the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO). 

He said his family had suffered years of stress and uncertainty over the future of their home, only for the scheme to be cancelled when they felt they might finally be on the verge of agreeing a sale to the council. 

The LGO investigated and published a report saying the council had failed to proceed negotiations with the complainant at the same speed as the owner who received £2.15 million. 

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It also said the council had refused to hand over correspondence about the purchase of that house. 

But the LGO did not make any findings of fraudulent activity.  

Haringey Council said it could not comment on an ongoing police investigation. 

But Labour leader Cllr Peray Ahmet said last year that the council would “fully co-operate” with the Met.