Opposition group calls in decision to pull out of community housing project
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The properties are in Oakfield Road, Anfield
The properties are in Oakfield Road, Anfield (Image: Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool City Council has been urged to make a u-turn on a controversial decision to pull 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."
There were large protests outside Liverpool Town Hall on Tuesday night ahead of a cabinet meeting in which senior councillors agreed to put the Oakfield Terrace homes up for sale on the open market, potentially ending Homebaked's involvement with the row of properties.
READ MORE: 'Too much uncertainty' as Anfield community homes plan is shelvedREAD MORE: Chants of 'cherish the terrace' as campaigners stage Town Hall demo
Now the city's Liberal Democrat opposition party have moved to challenge the decision, opting to 'call it in.' This is a process where a cabinet decision can challenge a cabinet decision and bring it back to another meeting for further scrutiny.
Opposition leader Cllr Carl Cashman said: "Where the council has an opportunity to work with local people looking to improve their community, this should be an opportunity grabbed with both hands and not squandered.
"I grew up on a council estate and my party is committed to building the first council housing in a generation. I hope pressure from the community as well as further scrutiny from opposition councillors will make the Labour party see common sense" and reconsider its decision.
Cllr Cashman added: "The empty sites pose a huge opportunity for the council, not only to work with community organisations such as Homebaked, but to also renovate these plots and create new council homes. Residents in Anfield who have been a part of the CLT have worked so hard on this project. If we can make it a success, it will be a model of how the council and the community can work in partnership to deal with vacant properties. That’s the way it should be - the council and the community working together for the betterment of the city."
Chants of 'cherish the terrace' were heard from protesters outside the town hall on Tuesday night as many came out to object to the council's decision. Homebaked CLT member Tom Murphy told the ECHO: "The council has left us in a really, really difficult situation. They have left us no time, no room and no other option than to stand up, come out publicly and say we will not stand for this behaviour.
"We have spent years, absolute years, hundreds of thousands of pounds. Turning their back on community owned homes in the community of Anfield is disgusting and we will not stand for it."
Members of Homebaked Community Land Trust outside Liverpool Town Hall
Members of Homebaked Community Land Trust outside Liverpool Town Hall
But Cllr Nick Small, the Cabinet Member 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 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."