A property developer linked to a stalled site in north Liverpool is now subject to a Bankruptcy Restriction Undertaking.
Anthony Kenny,44, known as 'Tony' in Liverpool's property sector, was a director of The Tannery Development company and The Vinco Group.
Both companies were heavily involved in the Tannery development in north Liverpool.
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The ECHO recently reported that 377 planned apartments at Bevington Bush had not been built. The Tannery Liverpool Ltd, the development company behind the scheme, entered into receivership last year.
The property scheme was heavily promoted and described as a "brownfield boutique" by sales agents but the scheme failed to materialise.
In May the ECHO revealed that 186 investors had put down deposits in the scheme, where prices ranged from £85,000 through to £182,000. Average deposits were said to be at around 30% of the purchase price.
The ECHO can now reveal that Mr Kenny, from north Liverpool, is now subject to a five year Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking (BRU) following a court hearing. The bankruptcy petition was brought by NF DELTA LLP which led to Mr Kenny being made bankrupt on August 4 last year.
Mr Kenny's BRU began on July 22 2021 and ends on July 21 2026. Mr Kenny will now be subject to a number of restrictions which prevent him from:
- Borrowing more than £500 without telling the lender they’re bankrupt
- Acting as a director of a company without the court’s permission
- Creating, managing or promoting a company without the court’s permission
- Managing a business with a different name without telling people they do business with that they are bankrupt
- Working as an insolvency practitioner
- A breach of any of the above could result in a criminal prosecution
In May an email was leaked to the ECHO which suggested The Tannery Liverpool Limited did not have any funds left after using investors' money to buy the land and pay for planning costs.
Companies House records show that Mr Kenny joined the Vinco Group on March 1 2016 and resigned on August 1 2020. He joined The Tannery ( Liverpool ) Ltd on May 30 2019 and resigned on August 1 2020.
Publicity information offered by Vinco in the past described Mr Kenny as the company's founder. The statement reads: "Tony Kenny is the founder and CEO of the Vinco Group. It was established in 2014 and has since experienced exponential growth.
"The company is now recognised as a leading real estate developer in the North West of England. Tony is very much hands-on regards to the company and securing projects – whilst relying on his team to deliver."
The Vinco Group was also behind another scheme near to The Tannery which failed to materialise. In 2017 the company unveiled plans to build four tower blocks on Freemasons Row off Leeds Street. But the 656 residential units have not been built.
The Tannery is one of a number of troubled developments within the so called Pumpfields area of the city. The ECHO has previously reported on the Metalworks scheme which has not been built. Investors are owed millions of pounds.
The ECHO has approached Mr Kenny for a comment on this story.
A spokesperson for investors in The Tannery said: "We are keen to hear from Mr Kenny about why this scheme collapsed and, in particular, how he can help us to recover all the money we invested."
Rob Cundy from Edge Recovery and Insolvency said: "I can confirm that Anthony Kenny was made bankrupt on 4 August 2020. Bijal Shah and I were appointed as Joint Trustees on 16 September 2020."
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