Nicole Falkingham, Property Developer Wife, Found Dead In Car

Wife Of Urban Splash Property Developer Found Dead In Car

The wife of a prominent businessman has been found dead in a car.

Nicole Falkingham, whose husband Jonathan Falkingham is the chief executive of property developer Urban Splash, was found on Friday, police confirmed.

The car was parked in a residential road at Eastwood, in Otterspool, Liverpool, when police were called shortly after 10am.

The 41-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Merseyside Police said her death is being treated as "unexplained" and have withheld the results of a post mortem examination as they await the outcome of toxicology tests.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and cannabis cultivation after officers involved in the inquiry entered a house at Eastwood and found a cannabis farm.

They have since been bailed pending further inquiries.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police is investigating the unexplained death of a woman following the discovery of a body in a car on Friday, 25 January.

"A Home Office post mortem has been carried out to establish the cause of death and the results are being held pending toxicology reports.

"When officers arrived at the address, they also discovered a cannabis factory with more than 100 plants.

"A 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman from Aigburth have been arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and manslaughter and have been released pending further inquiries."

Urban Splash, which is based in Manchester, is a leading property developer, having created landmark residential and business properties across the UK.

It is known for transforming derelict buildings and bringing them back into use, most notably the famous Art Deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe, Lancs, and Birmingham's Fort Dunlop.

Bradford-born Mr Falkingham, an architect, was a co-founder of the company.

In a message to staff, Urban Splash chairman Tom Bloxham said: "I am very sad to say, as some of you have heard, that Nicole Falkingham tragically died on Friday.

"Nicole was known to many of us, when she worked in our Liverpool office and was married to Jonathan.

"She was one of life's great characters and her loss so young is a tragedy. Our thoughts go out to Jonathan and Nicole's friends and family at this difficult time.

"It is so sad."

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