Mr Lawless and senior Liverpool Council official Nick Kavanagh were arrested on Wednesday as part of a fraud investigation and later released without charge on conditional bail. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool property developer Elliot Lawless is vowing to “clear my good name quickly” following his arrest on Wednesday along with a senior city council official.
Mr Lawless, 32, founder of Elliot group which is currently delivery seven live schemes worth hundred of millions of pounds across Liverpool, was arrested along with Nick Kavanagh, 50, director of regeneration and employment at Liverpool City Council.
Merseyside Police said the arrests were “part of an ongoing fraud investigation”. Both men were released on conditional bail and neither have been charged with any offences.
In statement the police said: “A 32-year-old man from Liverpool city centre has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, bribery and corruption. Whilst a 50-year-old man, employed by Liverpool City Council, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and misconduct in public office.”
Elliot Group is overseeing a number of major Liverpool city centre projects, including the £170m Park development, which includes the historic Heap’s Rice Mill and the spectacular £250m Infinity scheme close to the waterfront which includes three skyscrapers.
On the same day as the arrests Elliot Group announced that, along with its joint venture partner Valorem Investment Partner, it had secured a hotel operator for the Park Lane scheme.
In statement following his release, Mr Elliot said: “This is a frustrating turn of events as we are extremely busy delivering major schemes across the North. I’m helping the police fully with their enquiries and am more than happy to do so. It is important that I clear my good name quickly and that we move on from this.
The allegations are completely baseless but due process needs to be followed and whilst the police do their work I’ll not comment further on the issue. In the meantime, it’s business as usual. I have seven live schemes in Liverpool to deliver and am back at my desk doing just that.”