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Housing: demolishing old homes is not always the best way forward Housing: demolishing old homes is not always the best way forward
(5 months later)
Ed Vulliamy shines a light on a dark story ("Residents fight to save Ringo Starr estate from the wrecking ball"). A council representative says it's economic to demolish, but that's only true because grants from Eric Pickles's department are paying for it. Any rational analysis must conclude £34m to create a net loss of 280 houses is eye-wateringly wasteful. There are far better and cheaper answers that are solving the same problem. In Accrington, 200 empty homes are being renovated to tip-top condition for £10m. In Stoke and elsewhere in Liverpool, empty houses are being sold for £1 on condition the new owners do them up. These answers are much kinder on taxpayers, don't squander valuable housing and help heal, not divide, communities.Ed Vulliamy shines a light on a dark story ("Residents fight to save Ringo Starr estate from the wrecking ball"). A council representative says it's economic to demolish, but that's only true because grants from Eric Pickles's department are paying for it. Any rational analysis must conclude £34m to create a net loss of 280 houses is eye-wateringly wasteful. There are far better and cheaper answers that are solving the same problem. In Accrington, 200 empty homes are being renovated to tip-top condition for £10m. In Stoke and elsewhere in Liverpool, empty houses are being sold for £1 on condition the new owners do them up. These answers are much kinder on taxpayers, don't squander valuable housing and help heal, not divide, communities.
David Ireland Chief executive, Empty HomesDavid Ireland Chief executive, Empty Homes
London SE1London SE1
The Welsh Streets Community Champions Group was set up to champion the voices of the real residents still living in homes in the Welsh Streets in Liverpool and nearby areas and who desperately want to see new homes built for our community. We have been working hard for 10 years to campaign for the demolition of the current buildings, which are riddled with damp and subsidence and have no gardens or adequate parking. The Welsh Streets Community Champions Group was set up to champion the voices of the real residents still living in homes in the Welsh Streets in Liverpool and nearby areas and who desperately want to see new homes built for our community. We have been working hard for 10 years to campaign for the demolition of the current buildings, which are riddled with damp and subsidence and have no gardens or adequate parking. 
Once again, the arguments put forward were not those of Welsh Streets residents, but those of lobbying groups with their own agendas who don't live here and have no understanding of how desperate the vast majority of local people are for this scheme to happen. There are many misleading figures being put forward by these groups about what this scheme will actually deliver. The area will not be losing 280 homes – it will be gaining 225 high-quality new homes with outside spaces, homes that we are crying out for. Once again, the arguments put forward were not those of Welsh Streets residents, but those of lobbying groups with their own agendas who don't live here and have no understanding of how desperate the vast majority of local people are for this scheme to happen. There are many misleading figures being put forward by these groups about what this scheme will actually deliver. The area will not be losing 280 homes – it will be gaining 225 high-quality new homes with outside spaces, homes that we are crying out for. 
The funding secured to take these plans forward is underpinned by private investment and not public subsidy, and represents £15m of investment for our community. We find it staggering that people who don't live here and don't represent our views feel that they know better than we do about how to regenerate our neighbourhood.The funding secured to take these plans forward is underpinned by private investment and not public subsidy, and represents £15m of investment for our community. We find it staggering that people who don't live here and don't represent our views feel that they know better than we do about how to regenerate our neighbourhood.
Mary HuxhamMary Huxham
Welsh Streets Community ChampionsWelsh Streets Community Champions
LiverpoolLiverpool
So building 150 houses to replace 440 in Liverpool's Welsh Streets will cost £15m, plus the cost of demolition and site clearance. On the other hand, Share the City says that a house can be transformed to modern standards for £30k. Channel 4 showed that a larger terrace house in Liverpool could be brought back from dereliction for £25k. At £30k, the 440 houses will cost £13.2m, assuming no economies in modernising the whole estate. This compares to the £15m Plus Dane housing association claim. Is this a case for a judicial review based on irrational spending ?So building 150 houses to replace 440 in Liverpool's Welsh Streets will cost £15m, plus the cost of demolition and site clearance. On the other hand, Share the City says that a house can be transformed to modern standards for £30k. Channel 4 showed that a larger terrace house in Liverpool could be brought back from dereliction for £25k. At £30k, the 440 houses will cost £13.2m, assuming no economies in modernising the whole estate. This compares to the £15m Plus Dane housing association claim. Is this a case for a judicial review based on irrational spending ?
Prof Lewis LesleyProf Lewis Lesley
LiverpoolLiverpool
The piece painted an entirely misleading picture of the real views of local people and of Liverpool City Council's overall approach to demolition. Liverpool is not a city hellbent on the demolition of "sound Victorian homes".The piece painted an entirely misleading picture of the real views of local people and of Liverpool City Council's overall approach to demolition. Liverpool is not a city hellbent on the demolition of "sound Victorian homes".
We refurbish empty properties wherever possible; indeed, the mayor of Liverpool has set a target of bringing 1,000 empty properties back into use over the next three years. In the Princes Park renewal area (within which the Welsh Streets sits), 80% of the 2,500 properties are being retained.We refurbish empty properties wherever possible; indeed, the mayor of Liverpool has set a target of bringing 1,000 empty properties back into use over the next three years. In the Princes Park renewal area (within which the Welsh Streets sits), 80% of the 2,500 properties are being retained.
Demolition is never carried out lightly. In the case of the Welsh Streets, the "three-up, three-down" terraces were built in the 1880s, quickly and cheaply, without foundations. We are proposing the demolition of these homes because we have worked with, and listened to, the community for the past 10 years and this is consistently what the vast majority of them have told us they want. They do not wish to be forced to live in such properties, when their desire is to move to new homes with gardens and driveways.Demolition is never carried out lightly. In the case of the Welsh Streets, the "three-up, three-down" terraces were built in the 1880s, quickly and cheaply, without foundations. We are proposing the demolition of these homes because we have worked with, and listened to, the community for the past 10 years and this is consistently what the vast majority of them have told us they want. They do not wish to be forced to live in such properties, when their desire is to move to new homes with gardens and driveways.
Councillor Ann O'ByrneCouncillor Ann O'Byrne
Cabinet member for housingCabinet member for housing
Liverpool City CouncilLiverpool City Council
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