‘70s chart star launches £2m Toxteth development

A soul singer turned property developer has revealed plans to transform the site of an old Liverpool church into new homes.

The £2m project from ECAM Properties, founded in the 1980s by brothers Eddy and Chris Amoo of soul group The Real Thing, will see Belvidere Baptist Church in Toxteth turned into a mix of 20 one-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhouses.

To be known as Lili May Mews, the L8-area development is supported by Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Eddy, who shot to fame in The Real Thing with songs such as Children of the Ghetto and You to Me are Everything, runs ECAM Properties with his wife Sylvia and daughters Dionne and Marlene.

Commenting on the development, Eddy said: “Lili May Mews is a quirky development and will attract people who want something a bit different, plus it’s close to the city centre and has great access to green spaces.

“The church is subject to a conservation order, therefore we have had to be careful to source the right materials.”

Speaking further, Eddy said his company plans to modernise the church while retaining as many of the original features as possible.

He continued: “Being able to contribute to the local economy is important to us and over the years we have built strong relationships with our suppliers. During this project we have worked with more than 30 suppliers, of which 95% are based in Liverpool.

“The economic climate over the last few years has been tough for everyone, and for a small family business such as ours it has been important to have support from Lloyds Bank, who we have had a relationship with for 50 years.”

Lili May Mews, which will be the company’s 22nd development, could be followed by a further project targeting the Welsh Presbyterian Church on Princes Road, which has been empty since the 1990s.

Steve Hughes, a relationship director with a focus on property at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, commented: “ECAM Properties has been extremely successful in building a business whilst also supporting the ongoing transformation of Liverpool 8.

“It has breathed new life into a landmark building that was under threat and has created new homes whilst supporting local employers as much as possible.”

He added: “We’re passionate about working with local businesses to aid their growth and we have a team of specialist property relationship managers who have a wealth of experience to support our customers in the sector.”

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