Liverpool approves demolition of Ringo Starr home
April 19 2011
The former Beatles unassuming childhood home at 9 Madryn Street had been described as a “culturally important building” by Shapps but this sentiment was discounted by the local authority.
Instead demolition will proceed for the brick terrace alongside 200 homes in the area as part of a clearance programme which Shapps fears will sweep away a chunk of the city’s heritage.
The ball now rests in Shapps court with the Minister, theoretically, having the power to overrule LCC.
English Heritage has refused to list the properties, claiming that they are not of “historic or architectural importance”.
The move comes despite the coalition government pulling the plug on the so called Pathfinder regeneration plan which envisioned demolition of thousands of pre-war properties across the north of England.
Image taken by Sara Parker.
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The dramatic move – which forbids demolition without his express permission – came hours before the city’s planning committee was due to meet.
Defiant councillors went ahead this morning (Tuesday) and voted unanimously to approve the plans to raze the six streets of Victorian terrace houses known as the Welsh Streets.
But work, planned to start on May 17, will have to wait until Pickles has decided whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required prior to demolition.
Liverpool Council previously ruled that an assessment was not necessary but, after lobbying by Save, Pickles is now questioning this decision.
In a separate development, Save has also bought a house in one of the threatened streets.
Number 21 Madryn Street, a few doors from the childhood home of Ringo Starr, will become the centre of the preservation campaign.
The neighbourhood, named after the Welsh migrants who built it and first lived there, has been under threat of demolition for 10 years as one of the government’s Pathfinder housing market renewal initiatives."
A study by architect Mark Hines for Save last year showed two-up-two-down houses could be adapted for the demands of modern families.
But Liverpool Council leader and cabinet member for housing Joe Anderson said: “I pledged last year that if a developer came forward with a viable proposal to retain the Welsh Streets then we would look seriously at their plans. I am sorry to say that this has not happened.”
He is writing to Pickles to urge him to make a quick decision on the EIA so the council can “crack on and push ahead with the badly needed regeneration of this area”.
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