A developer has filed a $53-million lawsuit against city hall, claiming London’s high-profile rapid transit proposal harmed his plans for a major downtown project.

Tony Graat, owner of Danforth London Ltd., had planned a multi-tower development on what’s now a parking lot at King and Clarence streets — the intersection that would become the fulcrum of the $560-million transit system’s L-and 7-shaped corridors.

He shelved construction plans about a year ago, due to complications created by the rapid transit proposal.

Now Danforth has launched the lawsuit, filing a statement of claim last week.

A statement of claim contains allegations not yet tested in court.

About rapid transit, the claim alleges that city hall’s “transit plans adjacent to the plaintiff’s property have delayed, vacillated, and failed to consider the legitimate interests of the plaintiff and the adverse impact that the city’s conduct has had, and is having.”

Deputy Mayor Paul Hubert raised the lawsuit at Thursday night’s city council meeting, with city lawyer Geoff Belch saying the matter is “under review” by the legal office.

“I don’t think this is the place to comment on the claim or its merits,” Belch told council.

Danforth bought the land, formerly the site of the London Mews shopping mall, for more than $8 million in 2014. The highrise, mixed-use development planned for the spot was valued at $300 million.

Council has approved a 24-kilometre rapid transit system that would run on L- and 7-shaped corridors bisecting London. High-frequency buses would run on dedicated lanes, dramatically overhauling the city’s transit system.

Read the statement of claim here:

Danforth (London) Ltd. - Statement of Claim by The London Free Press on Scribd