Leasehold flat; vendor didn't transfer freehold

Hoobydog

18 months ago, we purchased a leasehold flat with a new 999 year lease. As the last flat in the converted development of 3 to sell, the developer was due to transfer the freehold of the whole building into a management company he had set up for that purpose. Although this was written in to the contract, and we paid the fee, he failed to do this and the management company has been struck off. The freehold, according to the Land Registry, remained with his development company, which is now also about to be struck off. The developer has disappeared, leaving many unpaid bills, and is untraceable.

If his development company is struck off, then the freehold presumably becomes bona vacantia, but due to the high ground rents on each flat, it would cost us collectively over £10k to retrieve the freehold if it passes to the Treasury Solicitor.

We have set up a new management company into which we all wish to acquire the freehold which is rightfully ours, bought and paid for - the question now is: how can we best achieve this at minimal expense?

Also, with the clock ticking, is it in our interest to object to the striking off of the development company, or would it be easier to try and sort it out afterwards?