Provence founder has failed before
The collapse of Provence is not founder Paul J Kiely's first business failure.
Before setting up Provence, he was a director of Kiely Developments, a rogue housebuilder based in Bury, Lancs, that collapsed in 1999.
Local MP Jim Dobbin was so worried about Kiely Developments' practices that he tabled an Early Day Motion about the activities of Paul J Kiely and his six brothers. Dobbin asked the House of Commons to deplore activities of Kiely Homes, also known as Kiely Developments, Manor Homes and Heritage Homes.
The MP said that the Kiely brothers continually flout planning regulations, repeatedly fail to achieve the quality of property development expected and encourage unsuspecting homebuyers to purchase sub-standard homes.
Dobbin asked for the law to be changed to ensure planning regulations are met before a mortgage is granted.
He said: "Insurance companies are refusing to offer insurance on the properties."
"With a view to encoraging legislation to protect first-time buyers from these cowboy builders?"