Latest Updates On High Street Group (HSG)
Discover the Latest Developments in Our Investigation
This page tracks our investigation into the High Street Group, setting out what has been uncovered so far and what is currently being pursued.
Below is information containing essential updates which have been curated by our diligent investigations team. They shed light on the intricate movements of assets that were formerly owned by High Street GRP Ltd (HSG) and later transferred to Hadrian Real Estate PLC (HRE) in 2021.
This page will be updated as further information becomes available.
Find out more about the third-party action.
*Please contact Insolvency & Law concerning the loan notes and provide more information on the third-party action.
HSG Timeline
Previous update
05/09/2023 at 13:54 pm
- A County Court Judgement was filed in June 2023 for £1,226.
- Accounts are still late as of 30.09.2022
- Oakyard Developments Ltd have been “slid” on top of All Saints Living Limited and its subsidiaries, making it the shareholder of those companies.
- High Street Grp Ltd was the shareholder for All Saints Living Limited but ceased in August 2021 and HRE became sole shareholder.
Oakyard Developments have a charge at Companies House by Alpha Trustee Services Ltd, which is an unregulated UK company, for Loan Notes for “raising finance for property acquisition, investment and/or development”. This was delivered on 12.07.2023.
On the Oakyard Developments Ltd Website, the projects listed are:
- Kirkwhelpington
- Morpeth Police Station
- Sadberge - could be Bodo Developments as there is a subsidiary called Sadberge Management Company Ltd.
- Bedale – Walbert Developments Ltd / Adelphi House had assets in Bedale.
- Great Oakley
- Darlington – Bodo Developments owns land in Darlington.
- Lenzie – Vaga Developments purchased the former Lenzie Primary School to develop.
These companies (except Sadberge Management Company Ltd.) were previously High Street Group subsidiaries, then became Hadrian Real Estate subsidiaries and are now Oakyard subsidiaries.
Under the “about us” segment on the website is a list of familiar individuals associated with Oakyard:
- Gavin Fraser, Rachel Turnbull and Kevin Willetts who were all associated with High Street Group.
- Steve Brown – legal Director for HRE and High Street Group PLC (was a Co-Director with Gary Forrest) and is now Legal Director for Oakyard.
- Keith McDougall – Ex Director of All Saints Commercial PLC (with Stuart Niven and Phillip Brumwell) and ex Director of All Saints Asset Management with Gary Forrest. He resigned 06.08.2021. He was part of a High Street Grp division management team with commercial manager Mark Kidd (see below). Keith has also been named in an article as “Residential Operations Director at High Street Group”.
- Alpha Trustee Services Limited (Company number 14669552) is part of the Alpha Group of Companies. Alpha Independent Financial Planning Limited (05247512) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Reference 711124).
- Alpha’s website states they are UK based, but offer PCC service in Guernsey via their associated company, Across Investments PCC.
- This article links Mark Kidd (of Infinity Commercial Brokers) to the build of Hadrian’s Tower. We believe this is the same Mark Kidd who is a now Secretary/Director and Shareholder of Alpha Trustee Services with Tony Insall. Alpha are the Security Trustees to the Loan Notes that Oakyard Developments have a charge for at Companies House. According to Mark Kidd’s LinkedIn, he was a Surveyor for All Saints and a Commercial Manager for High Street Residential.
- On the Alpha Trustees website, their partners are given as Oakyard Developments, Alpha Independent Financial Planning Ltd, Alpha Commercial Finance Limited and more importantly, Northumberland Living and Ashbrookes Inspired. Both these companies previously used Castle Trust as their Security Trustee to their Loan Notes products.
Previous update
29/08/2023 at 4:54 pm
Our analysis reveals a compelling pattern. Property and land assets, initially safeguarded by legal charges through debentures held by Castle Trust and Management Services Ltd (CTMS) for the benefit of HSG loan note holders, are now poised to be transferred from HRE to another affiliated company under the influence of individuals connected to Gary Forrest.
Here is a concise summary of our findings:
In essence, there's a substantial body of evidence indicating that HRE intends to migrate its property assets to a subsidiary named Oakyard Developments Ltd (Oakyard). Oakyard, a recent addition to HRE's portfolio, is currently owned by HRE. We've observed a transfer of HRE's assets, formerly owned by HSG, to Oakyard via changes in share ownership. The directors of Oakyard have strong ties to Gary Forrest. We suspect that Oakyard's shares will eventually change hands, moving from HRE to another limited company or individuals. Once this transition occurs, Oakyard will no longer fall under HRE's ownership, housing the property and land assets that were previously under HSG.
Our close monitoring of companies and associations linked to Gary Forrest has yielded valuable insights. Over the past two years, we've been meticulously observing HRE's activities. Our assessment indicates that HRE is currently trading while facing insolvency. We believe that it's highly likely HRE will face administration this year. This anticipated event will occur after HRE transfers its controlling interest in Oakyard to affiliates of Gary Forrest or other interconnected entities. Unfortunately, this strategic move could potentially place the property and land assets, initially secured by CTMS for HSG loan note holders, beyond the reach of recovery by the HSG Administrators.
We've noted that Oakyard is subject to debentures, with Alpha Trustee Services (ATS), a recently established trustee company, acting as the charger. The director of ATS has connections to CTMS. Our suspicions are further aroused by the resemblance between this setup and the earlier HSG case, involving raising funds from unsuspecting investors. The key individuals in this scheme are closely tied to Gary Forrest.
We are also fully aware that Gary Forrest, the director of HSG, and Steven Knight, the director of CTMS, have resorted to spreading misinformation to an entity named Safe Or Scam LLC (SOS). It's important to note that SOS has published defamatory blog articles targeting our team and our work. Gary Forrest, Steven Knight, and SOS seem determined to harm our reputation and intimidate female members of our team. Their goal is to dissuade us from investigating matters related to HSG, CTMS, and now SOS. However, we remain steadfast in our resolve to continue our investigations and secure recoveries for those loan note holders who have entrusted their loan notes to us.
Keep in mind that SOS claims to advocate for innocent investors who have suffered losses due to unregulated companies engaged in property investment schemes. Yet, in this particular instance, it's clear that their interests align with Gary Forrest and Steven Knight.
SOS's management has chosen to remain anonymous while publishing defamatory content, which we find baseless. Furthermore, SOS is registered in New Mexico, USA, a jurisdiction separate from England. This geographical separation makes legal action challenging and expensive for us. Nonetheless, we've uncovered that SOS's New Mexico setup is a facade, as we're confident that their operations are based in England. This structural manipulation allows them to act with impunity when serving the interests of individuals like Gary Forrest and Steven Knight.
We've also become aware that agents associated with Gary Forrest, Steven Knight, and SOS have infiltrated WhatsApp groups established by loan note holders. Their aim is to spread false information about our team and our mission, all in an attempt to undermine our efforts and safeguard their own interests. We urge you to stay vigilant and question any loan note holder advocating agendas that don't align with the recovery of funds for fellow loan note holders.
Stay tuned as we continue to delve into these intricate matters and work tirelessly to uphold transparency and fairness. Your trust in our endeavors fuels our determination to bring about just outcomes for all parties involved.
Important Notice
Why you should sign the consent form...
HIGH STREET GRP LIMITED – In Administration
Joint Administrators Proposals
Issued on: 9 February 2022
Delivered to creditors on: 10 February 2022
Are you a loan note holder who is owed money by High Street Commercial Finance Ltd (HSCF) or its parent company High Street GRP Ltd (HSG)?
If so, you should join debt recovery and insolvency specialists Insolvency & Law to secure your free and expert representation in the statutory insolvency proceedings of the above companies.
Insolvency & Law will be your authorised representative to maximise the return of your current loss from the above insolvent companies.
Furthermore, legal proceedings against certain third parties responsible for your current loss is on the way. This action is separate to the insolvency of the above companies.
In the last five years alone, Insolvency & Law has been engaged in the recovery of more than £40m for investors just like you.
To receive representation please click the button below called 'Click Here For Consent Form' and complete and digitally sign the form.
- High Street GRP has over 1,500 retail investors. Many are vulnerable because of age, health, absent professional advice and a lack of requisite experience
- Over 2,500 investment transactions were undertaken by the 1,500+ retail investors
- A total of £118m was poured into the Company by retail investors prior to its collapse
- Over £50m in property assets (land and buildings) is said to have been transferred from the Company to Hadrian Real Estate Plc without any payment of funds
- This transfer of assets was undertaken at a time when the Company was seriously insolvent and therefore in breach of Insolvency law, which was detrimental to creditors' interests
- Although the initial period of the statutory insolvency is 12 months, the process may take years to complete and provide creditors with little or no return
The Company
The Administrators report should address the business of the Company in terms of how it traded and raised funds from investors. The report should attempt to explain when the Company ran into trading difficulties and started to default on its obligations, particularly to investors.
The Report
It is well known the Company has been trading while insolvent since the middle of 2018. The Administrators report should disclose this and we must wait and see to what extent. What we do know is those who invested in the Company beyond the time when it became insolvent were unduly exposed to unnecessary risk that could have been easily avoided.
The Proposal
The Administrator's proposal should disclose how they intend to realise the Company’s assets for the benefit its creditors. But we all know the Company has next to no realisable assets unless it looks towards its subsidiaries and HRE, which could be problematic for both. So where else can asset realisations come from to pay creditors?
Recovery Plan
The Administrators’ proposals will disclose if they have bought into the recovery plan promoted by management and the Investor Committee, or pursued an alternative course.
Investigations
If the Administrators do not receive the required cooperation from the Company’s former management in regards to movement of the Company’s assets, the investigation to recover such assets will undoubtedly become lengthy, contentious, and costly. Important question: will there be available funds in the Administration to fund investigations that will inevitably costs hundreds and thousands of pounds, and could quite easily exceed £1m?
What Next?
Creditors must await the Administrators’ report and proposals for the Company, and carefully consider its content.
If creditors want a representative to act on their behalf, they will receive proxy and proof of debt forms to complete. Creditors will also be invited to establish a creditors’ committee, which is created and governed by the Administrators. However, it is still an effective forum to assert creditors interest.
We understand a significant body of creditors will not engage with this insolvency process due to being either busy, insufficiently informed, disinterested, or some other reason. However, if creditors want to improve their prospects, they must act together as a single majority and not a minority or alone. The insolvency process is an alien concept to most people and creditors are no exception.
We understand the insolvency process very well and use it to benefit creditors’ interests. Let us do the same for you too.
Our creditor representation service is offered to you without any fee obligation on your part. We will never charge you for this service. We have a common goal.
If you have not already done so, simply complete and return to us the following:
- Letter of Authority
- Proof of Debt form
- Proxy
We will keep you informed of our progress at all times.
Consent, investigations and questionnaire
To fully understand the failure of High Street GRP (HSG), High Street Commercial Finance (HSCF) and other connected companies, Insolvency & Law has:
- Made available a questionnaire to gather evidence and other material information from loan note holders
- Launched ongoing investigations to establish which third parties are collectively responsible for losses suffered by lone note holders
Our questionnaire and investigations into HSG and the company's connected companies (including HSCF) will help to identify which third parties who contributed to your loss of funds as they may be held accountable and ordered by a court to return the full value of your loss plus costs incurred.
We will report our findings and loan note holders who want to recover substantial funds will be invited to join us in the legal proceedings.
In the last five years alone, Insolvency & Law has been engaged in the recovery of more than £40m for investors just like you.
Debt recovery specialists
Complete the consent form below to join the proceedings and appoint Insolvency & Law as authorised representatives to act on your behalf:
In 2021, Insolvency & Law became a creditor of a HSG subsidiary company (HSCF).
We successfully petitioned the Court for HSCF to be wound up in December 2021 and the company was placed into compulsory liquidation in February 2022.
In August 2022, Insolvency & Law's nominated liquidators were appointed over the company to take charge of its affairs, including investigations and the realisation of assets.
Strength in numbers
To help recover losses suffered by HSG and HSCF loan note holders, Insolvency & Law:
- Galvanises HSG and HSCF loan note holders
- Plays an active role on the HSG creditors' committee
In these situations, loan note holders have more power than they realise. But they must unite and join forces with other creditors because this is the best way to:
- Improve recovery and dividend prospects
- Gain greater control over the insolvency process
However, loan note holders must act swiftly, or they will miss the opportunity to maximise their leverage.
It is possible that HSCF may have been used as a treasury account for several companies connected to HSG (including HSG and HRE). To join our campaign, click the button below called 'Click Here For Consent Form' and complete and digitally sign the form.
Warning
Please do not respond to emails, letters, phone calls or other contact from any party claiming to recover your funds. It is more than likely a scam and you will certainly lose more money.
Only respond to Insolvency & Law, the Joint Administrators and the Joint Liquidators.
Even we have received correspondence purportedly from the Official Receiver’s office. This too was a scam.
Please be careful.
Previous update
23/11/2021 at 4:37 pm
High Street GRP Ltd (in Administration), High Street Commercial Finance Ltd (in Liquidation) and the connected companies (collectively “the Companies” or singularly “the Company”)
We can confirm that Gary Forrest and Insolvency & Law have agreed an undisclosed settlement in respect of a number of Loan Note Holders and other creditors who assigned their loan notes and debts to Insolvency & Law.
Insolvency & Law confirms, going forward, it has no further interest in Gary Forrest and have since removed all personal references to Gary Forrest published on our website and other platforms.
However, Insolvency & Law will continue to represent the interests of Loan Note Holders who provided consent to us for representation in the statutory insolvency proceedings of the abovementioned Companies. We continue to provide this service without charge to those Loan Note Holders. However, please be aware the prospects for Loan Note Holders are not great and may take several years to determine. We anticipate less than 10 pence in the pound for every £1 of loan note value lost.
This service is without charge to Loan Note Holders.
Over the past 12 months, Insolvency & Law has made deep-level enquiries into certain third parties who were/are connected to the Companies. It is considered those third parties are jointly responsible for the loss suffered by Loan Note Holders. It is considered that legal action against those third parties will produce a much more significant return of funds to Loan Note Holders than they could conceivably expect to achieve from the Insolvent Companies, or elsewhere.
This is a paid for service.
The beginning
15/07/2021 at 11:33 pm
You could still recover some of your loss...
To fully understand the failure of High Street GRP (HSG), High Street Commercial Finance (HSCF) and other connected companies, Insolvency & Law has:
- Made available a questionnaire to gather evidence and other material information from loan note holders
- Launched ongoing investigations to establish which third parties are collectively responsible for losses suffered by lone note holders
Our questionnaire and investigations into HSG and the company's connected companies (including HSCF) will help to identify which third parties contributed to your loss of funds as they may be held accountable and ordered by a court to return the full value of your loss plus costs incurred.
We will report our findings and loan note holders who want to recover substantial funds will be invited to join us in the legal proceedings.
In the last five years alone, Insolvency & Law has been engaged in the recovery of more than £40m for investors just like you.
Debt recovery specialists
Complete the consent form below to join the proceedings and appoint Insolvency & Law as authorised representatives to act on your behalf:
In 2021, Insolvency & Law became a creditor of a HSG subsidiary company (HSCF).
We successfully petitioned the Court for HSCF to be wound up in December 2021 and the company was placed into compulsory liquidation in February 2022.
In August 2022, Insolvency & Law's nominated liquidators were appointed over the company to take charge of its affairs, including investigations and the realisation of assets.
To help recover losses suffered by HSG and HSCF loan note holders, Insolvency & Law:
- Galvanises HSG and HSCF loan note holders
- Plays an active role on the HSG creditors' committee
In these situations, loan note holders have more power than they realise. But they must unite and join forces with other creditors because this is the best way to:
- Improve recovery and dividend prospects
- Gain greater control over the insolvency process
However, loan note holders must act swiftly, or they will miss the opportunity to maximise their leverage.
It is possible that HSCF may have been used as a treasury account for several companies connected to HSG (including HSG and HRE). To join our campaign, sign the form below:
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