Catchwords:

ESTOPPEL – equity – equitable estoppel alleged to have arisen from written representations amounting to a promise – promise later withdrawn – whether there was reliance on the promise – whether the remedy should be based on the value of the promise or the detriment suffered from reliance on the promise assessed with reference to expenditure incurred – unconscionability and proportionality of remedy – whether a certain course of conduct was committed to in reliance on the promise so that expenditure on that course even after withdrawal of the promise should be awarded – whether legal expenses and liability for legal costs awarded as equitable compensation have to be proven to have been reasonably incurred and reasonable as to amount