Agent sues for millions over St Pancras hotel restoration

A multi-million pound claim over the restoration of the St Pancras hotel is set for the High Court.

Property agent Charles Lissack has filed a claim for a quarter of the profits from the £150 million project, which saw the building returned to its former Victorian gothic splendour.

He is suing the developers Manhattan Loft Corporation, which he says owes him a "finder's fee" for introducing the company to the owner of the site, London and Continental Railways.

Mr Lissack was formerly a consultant to MLC and worked on the redevelopment of the Grade I listed St Pancras Chambers building above the station.

It reopened as the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in May. The claim reads: "In 1996, Mr Lissack introduced an opportunity relating to the redevelopment of the London & Continental Railways site at St Pancras."

Although the project ran heavily over budget it is expected to make a profit running to millions of pounds. The claim has been rejected by MLC, which is run by Harry Handelsman, the developer who pioneered "loft living" in London.

Mr Handelsman said in an interview it has turned into "a massive financial commitment but I feel an emotional attachment."

Mr Lissack, who now works for property developer Yoo Capital, would not comment. A spokeswoman for MLC said the claim "is completely without merit and MLC is defending it vigorously".