Welsh Streets, Liverpool

The Welsh Streets are located in Liverpool, England near Princes Park, named as such as they were constructed by Welsh builders for immigrants seeking work and housing from Wales. The streets were named after Welsh towns, valleys and villages.^[1]

Plans were announced in the early 2000s to demolish the housing estate and build new, but fewer, houses in their place. Despite the area being cleared of residents and houses boarded up ready for demolition, funding was withdrawn in 2010 and the demolition never took place. Instead, a housing renewal company took ownership of some of the properties on a pilot scheme, to renovate and make available for rent to determine expected popularity.

History

By 1850, there were over 20,000 Welsh builders working within Liverpool who required housing. Land in Toxteth was leased for housing development,^[2] with the streets being built by architect Richard Owens^[3] and the builder D Roberts, Son and Co, who together built over 4,000 houses in Toxteth, predominantly during the 1870s.^[4]

The streets

The streets include Wynnstay Street, Voelas Street, Rhiwlas Street, Powis Street, Madryn Street, Kinmel Street, Gwydir Street, Pengwern Street and Treborth Street. Whilst many of the houses remain, some have been demolished as a result of previous unsuccessful regeneration schemes.

Regeneration

Rhiwlas Street in an empty and derelict condition, August 2012

Council survey data published in 2005 showed the Welsh Streets were broadly popular with residents and in better than average condition, but were condemned for demolition because of a perceived 'over-supply' of 'obsolete' terraced houses in Liverpool. The land was offered to private developer Gleeson's and social landlord Plus Dane and proposals published for lower density houses. Some residents were happy to be offered new homes, while others were determined to stay. The proposals have divided the local community.^[5]

Clearance has proved highly contentious, with some taking the view that the houses are beyond rescue, while others believe they are fundamentally sound. Campaigning charities led by Merseyside Civic Society and SAVE Britain's Heritage have asserted that renovation would be preferable and cheaper. By 2009 over 100 residents had been rehoused together into a neighbourhood nearby which they had helped to design. Others had left the area altogether. In 2011 the Secretary of State quashed planning permission for demolition and required an Environmental Impact Assessment. In summer 2012 new proposals for demolition of 250 houses were endorsed by Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and Housing Minister Grant Shapps, who visited the area to announce retention of 9 Madryn Street and 15 adjacent homes. Local residents in the Welsh Streets Home Group have consulted on alternative renovation proposals that retain the majority of the houses, remodelled as environmentally friendly eco-homes.

Plans submitted in 2013 suggested that 150 houses could be built and 40 refurbished, including those around the house where Ringo Starr was born. The cost was estimated to be in the region of £15 million which would have seen the demolition of houses from the other surrounding Welsh Streets to be replaced with semi-detached properties. The managing director of the proposed regeneration, Claire Griffiths, suggested that 70% of residents had favoured the plans, yet housing charity Empty Homes disputed the credibility of the public opinion report, given the criteria used would have made it difficult to conclude refurbishment as a favourable option.^[6] The plans ultimately fell through when in January 2015 following a public enquiry, former communities secretary Eric Pickles halted the demolition plans. With few alternate options, refurbishment was subsequently deemed viable, with the council agreeing a partnership with Placefirst, who had experience in renewing derelict properties.^[7]

Voelas Street in September 2017, showing almost complete refurbishment

A pilot scheme in 2017 involved the refurbishment of houses in Voelas Street to demonstrate how the houses could be remodelled and to determine public opinion and uptake. Upon launching the scheme to prospective tenants, all properties were taken within the first weekend, with expected residents moving in around September 2017.^[8] The renovations involve remodelling some floorplans and knocking through to adjacent homes to create larger houses, whilst retaining some of the original houses in order to cater for various residential requirements. Many homes are available to rent, whilst some will be available for purchase.^[7]

Notable residents

Birth home of Ringo Starr, pictured in March 2012 in a derelict condition

Musician Ringo Starr was born in 9 Madryn Street, where he lived until the age of 4 before moving to Admiral Grove. The threat to Starr's birthplace was announced in 2003 and prompted uproar in parts of the neighbourhood and among fans all over the world. A proposal was made in September 2005 to take down the house brick by brick and rebuild it as a centrepiece for the Museum of Liverpool Life. This was a reversal of Liverpool council's earlier claim the house had no historic value. However, as of 2018, number 9 Madryn Street and several hundred other houses still stand derelict. Starr said it was not worth taking the house down simply to rebuild it elsewhere, as it would not then be his birthplace. Many suggested demolition of the area surrounding Starr's home was unsatisfactory, claiming "People liked the city's character, not packaged replicas".^[9]

References