Homebaked Community Land Trust accuses council of 'pulling rug from under their feet' as local authority hits back
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The derelict houses in Oakfield Road that Homebaked Community Land Trust has been trying to bring back to life
The derelict houses in Oakfield Road that Homebaked Community Land Trust has been trying to bring back to life
(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A huge row has broken out, leading to calls for a protest outside Liverpool Town Hall, after the city council pulled out of a community housing project in Anfield.
For some years now, the council has been working with the Homebaked Community Land Trust on plans to refurbish nine derelict properties on Oakfield Road, just a stone's throw from Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium. But now that deal has fallen apart and sparked a major row - with the council claiming the plans are not viable and Homebaked accusing the local authority of "pulling the rug out from under their feet."
Homebaked Community Land Trust was formed by a group of residents that have been working together since 2012 to try to shape the area of North Liverpool where they live through community ownership. The group's first major success was to save an iconic neighbourhood bakery from demolition and help to turn it into the Homebaked Bakery, that has become hugely popular with match-going fans and local people ever since.
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But its most ambitious project aimed to bring a row of long-term vacant former council properties on Oakfield Road - referred to as Oakfield Terrace - back to life through a community-ownership scheme. Having stopped the planned demolition of the houses, the community trust, working in collaboration with developers Your Housing Group, secured planning permission in 2019 as well as additional funding, before running into challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.
But the plans now appear to have fallen apart after Liverpool Council listed the row of houses on a report of properties to be sold on the open market in cabinet reports ahead of a meeting this week. The council said it had worked for a number of years to try to support Homebaked CLT and its plans for Oakfield Terrace, but said it became clear earlier this year that the project was facing huge challenges - particularly when Your Housing Group withdrew its involvement.
But the CLT has hit out at the city council and is now attempting to organise a protest outside the town hall ahead of the cabinet meeting on Tuesday when the deal to sell the Anfield properties is expected to be agreed.
In a statement on social media, Homebaked CLT said: "Homebaked Community Land Trust (CLT) has been working on plans to complete the redevelopment of Oakfield Terrace in North Liverpool since 2018, following the community's successful campaign to stop the demolition of the site. We have secured additional funding totalling more than £520,000 to kickstart the final phase of work - contingent on its transfer from Liverpool City Council.
"Now, despite working with Homebaked CLT since 2016 to enable the development and community ownership of Oakfield Terrace, LCC has u-turned on this commitment and has included the block on a list of properties to be sold on the open market." The statement claimed that the council have "pulled the rug out from under our feet and have u-turned on their commitment to enable community-owned homes in Anfield."
Asking supporters to join them for a demonstration before Tuesday's meeting, Homebaked CLT said they have a number of questions for the council, asking: "Why has LCC chosen to include 179-195 Oakfield Road in its Void Housing Stock Asset List for 'disposal on the open market' without fully considering the best options for it, as it has done with other homes on the list?
"Why has LCC created a community-led housing policy for the transfer of assets to community groups, but has chosen not to consider its use here? And why, after eight years of working together and considerable investment, was this decision made without any communication with Homebaked CLT?"
But in a strong response, Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet for Growth and Economy, said: “It’s with great disappointment and sadness that Homebaked CLT have decided to falsely portray the reasons why their scheme to convert vacant properties in Anfield has fallen through.
The vacant houses in Oakfield Road in Anfield
The vacant houses in Oakfield Road in Anfield
“The council has acted in good faith over a number of years to try and find a way to support Homebaked CLT to refurbish the properties on Oakfield Terrace. Unfortunately, it became clear earlier this year that their scheme was facing huge challenges which became even more difficult in April when their partner – Your Housing Group – withdrew their involvement."
“Not only had planning permission expired but previous cabinet approval was based on YHG’s involvement, so that became made null and void. These setbacks will cause severe delays and also puts any funding support from the Combined Authority and the National Lottery under huge questions. Questions that remain unanswered."
Cllr Small claimed that Homebaked CLT had been unable to attract any other partner, adding: "Not least because there is no national funding programme available for such a scheme, and without a robust financial business case their project is simply not viable. And without a concrete plan to refurbish, the council can no longer allow these empty properties to continue to remain empty."
The cabinet member added: “Reluctantly, we have informed Homebaked CLT that we have instead decided to look at putting these properties on the open market for sale as part of a wider package of the council’s void housing. Under this wider arrangement the council will be looking to lease back a number of the houses for use as temporary accommodation. The council will also put in place legal safeguards to prevent the houses being used for HMOs, Air B&B and student accommodation, with clear deadlines when the houses are to be refurbished by. In putting the houses on the market Homebaked CLT are welcome to submit a bid for the houses which they will need to demonstrate that they have a deliverable scheme.
“We feel this is the best route forward for Oakfield terrace and the Anfield community. We fully understand Homebaked CLT’s frustrations – some of the issues have been beyond anyone’s control - but they need to reflect on their unhelpful reaction and focus on how best to develop a viable business case for these properties and any future scheme that may arise in the community.”