Proceedings begin against flat developer

PROCEEDINGS have started for the compulsory strike-off of a company linked to a controversial flats project in Runcorn after its latest accounts were not filed on time.

Filings on the Companies House Government business database said the notice against Manchester-based DS7 Ltd will be published in The Gazette official public record on January 9.

DS7 Ltd was the financial backer for the nowdefunct Absolute Living Developments (ALD) when it won planning permission to convert the derelict eyesore East Lane House in Runcorn into flats.

In October, DS7 was named in an ALD liquidation report as having received £427,267 in ‘wrongfully-diverted’ cash from ALD after a windingup petition had been served to ALD.

DS7 Ltd director Charles Cunningham had his assets frozen by the High Court in connection with the Empress Mill flats project in Manchester.

According to Companies House, the firm’s last accounts, covering 2016, were due to be filed on September 30, 2017, but that the company has only filed accounts covering up to December 2015.

The company has further links to East Lane House in Runcorn.

Two of its former directors, Timothy Ackrel and Laura Jane Harding, have also been directors at 2380 Reversions, which was the registered owner of East Lane House until the building was bought out by unconnected US-based developers in autumn 2016.

Mr Ackrel resigned from 2380 Reversions in 2015 but Mrs Harding remains in place.

DS7 Ltd is also listed as one of the two shareholders at former East Lane House owners 2380 Reversions.

The now-defunct Absolute Living Developments caused outrage in Runcorn in 2015 when it pushed through controversial plans to convert East Lane House into 448 onebedroom flats, most of them studios.

ALD overturned Halton Borough Council’s refusal for the scheme on appeal.