Ebenezer Church owner will not make a profit
The collapse of two contractors will leave the owner and developer of Ebenezer Church struggling to break even on the project.
The former church on Brock Road was sold for just over £1m. in 2021, with permission for 11 flats inside the protected building, and six further flats in an extension at the rear.
But as work got under way, the project was blighted by the collapse of firms in the post-Covid construction industry.
Pulse and Kalmac both went into insolvency during the project, leaving Jonathan Ruff, owner of developer JAJ Properties, struggling over how to finish the building.
‘First it was Pulse, and then Kalmac came in, and they went bust,’ he said.
‘I feel like that’s led to stigma around the building of Ebenezer, or the workmanship and the quality, but it’s not Kalmac, it’s not Pulse, this is JAJ Properties. We have already converted many churches, and we give the warranties – I’ve personally finished this church off myself.’
He said that over the last four months he had spent an extra £500,000 to finish the project, but his legacy of problems with contractors had raised further concerns.
‘Recently, we had one of the flats under offer, the surveyor came round for the bank, and he said, “I would be careful about warranties on this building, because the contractor went bust”. I just found that a ridiculous thing to say,’ he said.
‘For one because JAJ Properties sells a property and gives the warranties.
‘Yes, I would ask the main contractor to do it, but JAJ Properties is now the main contractor, so it’s me, I finished it, and I want people to understand this because it’s a grey area.’
Despite the setbacks Mr Ruff said he did not regret taking the project on.
‘It won’t be a profitable project. You win some, you lose some – that’s developing,’ he said.
Three of the 17 flats, which are priced between £399,000 and £595,000, are currently under offer and despite a recent price ‘reappraisal’, he added that every price was negotiable.
‘The church was only properly finished earlier this month, every snag has been dealt with, and it’s looking perfect.
‘I’ll be keeping one flat in the church for myself. I’ve got my eye on one, but I’m letting the buyers have the last pick.’
The Brock Road Methodist Church opened on the current site on 10 October 1878 and took the Ebenezer name in 1960.
The last service at Ebenezer Methodist Church was held in July 1993 and it was first sold for redevelopment in 2012.
