Frank Lampard hires councilor to net 3m pound profit from sale of house

London, Mar 4 (ANI): Frank Lampard has hired a councillor to help him get a planning approval for his mansion and pocket a 3-milion-pound profit from it.

The Chelsea ace hired Tory David Archer who is nicknamed 'Boycie' because he looks like Del Boy's wheeler-dealer pal in 'Only Fools and Horses'.

Bentley-driving Boycie, 65, filled in forms and helped mastermind an application to build a new luxury home in the grounds of Lampard's property in Esher, Surrey.

"We know no law has been broken but what the hell is this councillor doing filling in forms for Lampard. There is astonishment this was allowed to happen," the Sun quoted a local as saying

"The fact is Boycie has influence and power in the council and it is something many people feel needs looking at," another local said.

Lampard paid 4 million pounds for the mansion. Now with permission for the extra house, it is up for sale at 7 million pounds.

Boycie, director of a firm called A and R Properties, was hired as a consultant. He signed some of the planning forms on Lampard's behalf.

He is also vice-chairman of the council planning committee that waved the controversial scheme through in the face of widespread opposition from the National Trust and locals.

There is no suggestion that Lampard or Archer broke the law or any planning rules or that the decision was improperly reached.

It is confirmed that Archer and his fellow councillors followed all procedures to the letter in declaring an interest.

Nevertheless, locals are furious over the willingness of a publicly elected official to make money submitting controversial plans to a committee he sits on.

Lampard, 33, and his ex Elen Rivas bought the Tudor-style property on an exclusive estate in 2003. He moved out after they split in 2009.

It has six bedrooms, a games room, an outdoor pool and a tennis court and sits in 2.25 acres.

A spokesman for Lampard said that his father Frank Snr looks after the player's property affairs.

"Frank had nothing to do with it. He wouldn't know who was employed or wasn't," the spokesman added. (ANI)