Vacant central Burnley retail asset goes under the hammer

Liquidators seeking to raise money from the estate of an investor embroiled in a fraud case are hoping for bids in excess of £395,000 for an art deco building that occupies a prominent position on the high street.

Located opposite Burnley Council’s Charter Walk shopping centre, the last registered owner of the retail building on the corner of James Street and Manchester Road is Mercy Global Consult, which was placed into liquidation by HMRC over £21m of unpaid VAT.

The Burnley building is one of several that made up Mercy Global Consult’s property portfolio, according to publicly available documents.

A spokesperson for liquidator Begbies Traynor said: “Jason Ainge and Paul Stanley were appointed as liquidators of Mercy Global Consult in 2021.

“This sale follows successful litigation against the company and its directors and is a part of the ongoing enforcement and realisation work that is being undertaken in the liquidation.”

The 10,000 sq ft, three-storey building was previously let to clothing stores Burton and Dorothy Perkins, which closed in 2020. It was most recently occupied by an Afflecks Palace-style outlet called Sui Generis but is now vacant.

The lot up for auction on 24 September includes a 1,000 sq ft unit let to estate agent Bridgefords.

Ed Feather, director and auctioneer at Pugh, said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire an iconic piece of Burnley’s retail heritage. The building could once again be used as a large retail space, or potentially redeveloped for an alternative use, subject to planning consent.”