Administrators put historic hall owned by scandal-hit businessman up for sale
Administrators have put an historic Warwickshire hall up for sale, which was bought last year by Northern Powerhouse Developments.
The group’s chairman, Gavin Woodhouse, has been at the centre of high-profile legal action into a series of collapsed retirement schemes.
Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has been appointed by the administrators of Bourton Spa Ltd, Daniel Richardson and Edward Avery-Gee of CG&Co, to sell Bourton Hall for £2.25m.
The sale comes following a probe into the activities of the Lancashire businessman, who won backing from investors for plans to build care homes in the North West and an adventure park in Wales which failed to get off the ground.
The group operated a funding system whereby investors forward-buy rooms in the hotels, and this money is used to buy and develop the properties.
However, seven investors who put their savings into businesses owned by Woodhouse took legal action, applying to the High Court to have four of his companies taken into administration.
Over three separate hearings in July, temporary administrators were appointed by the high court to run Woodhouse’s holding company, Northern Powerhouse Developments, his adventure resort group, Afan Valley, two care home firms, MBI Clifton Moor and MBI Hawthorn, and his hotel holding company, Giant Hospitality.
CG&Co were then appointed as administrators to Bourton Spa Ltd on July 22.
Woodhouse raised millions of pounds from investors for the projects but has failed to build the care homes as planned.
TV presenter Bear Grylls appeared in a marketing video for the adventure resort and said he had decided to base the Bear Grylls Survival Academy there.
Grade II-listed Bourton Hall dates back to 1791, it has been used as a single residence but more recently as commercial offices.
Daniel Richardson, partner at CG&Co, said: “The administrators are of the opinion that Bourton Hall offers a unique opportunity within the market to acquire a standout property in the region.”
