April 29 2010

The government backed NewHeartlands scheme, responsible for the demolition of swathes of housing in the north of England, has been criticised by Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley for leaving tracts of his city derelict.

Bradley admitted that the housing policy pursued by the council was wrong and had “ripped the heart” out of local communities.

Anfield and Breckfield, Kensington, Princes Park, Granby, Wavertree and Lodge Lane have witnessed large scale demolitions, including some listed buildings, whilst scores more lie empty and boarded up.

Admitting that the council had “bit off more than we could chew” by tackling these areas simultaneously, Bradley expressed the wish that the local authority had instead pursued a sequential programme of improvement.

The clearance programme is of a scale not seen in the UK since the seventies and many architects are unhappy that the scorched earth policy is taking the good down with the bad.

The policy was devised by former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Image taken by Liverpool Suburbia

Post your comments

Your name (required)
Your email (not displayed)
Comments (required)
	All comments are pre-moderated and must obey our house rules.