Posted on by Ronnie Hughes

On site: In Granby today

Still construction training opportunities for young people available. See below for details, together with this supportive article from the Liverpool Echo.

A perfect sunny afternoon for having a look at how things are going in Granby, Liverpool 8.

Walking along Kingsley.
Walking along Kingsley.
Past Beaconsfield.
Past Beaconsfield.

This end all done. Plus Dane at work on the far end.

But I’m principally here today to see how things are going on the Granby 4 Streets Community Land Trust’s ’10 House Project’.

The new Granby 4 Streets website.
The new Granby 4 Streets website.

All 10 houses are in Cairns Street.
All 10 houses are in Cairns Street.
Here we are.
Here we are.
A welcome sight in a busy street.
A welcome sight in a busy street.
The Community Land Trust houses.
The Community Land Trust houses.
No. 49 Cairns Street.
No. 49 Cairns Street.
We'll be getting inside for a look round soon.
We’ll be getting inside for a look round soon.
In between other occupied houses.
In between other occupied houses.
But first a quick visit to Eleanor and Erika of the Community Land Trust.
But first a quick visit to Eleanor and Erika of the Community Land Trust.
Glad to be getting on with things after so long planning and dreaming.
Glad to be getting on with things after so long planning and dreaming.

A warm drink later it’s time to go over to number 49. Last visited a couple of weeks ago when the contractors were just starting on site.

A look round upstairs.
A look round upstairs.
The house is almost completely stripped out now.
The house is almost completely stripped out now.
Back to its bare bones.
Back to its bare bones.
The newell post awaits new hands awaits new hands to swivel round it once the house is all renewed.
The newell post awaits new hands to swivel round it once the house is all renewed.
Empty spaces turned back into rooms.
Empty spaces turned back into rooms.
A new roof put on.
A new roof put on.
And new windows put in.
And new windows put in.
To look out onto a renewed street.
To look out onto a renewed street.

Liverpool Mutual Homes at work on the other side of the road.

Along the landing and down the stairs.
Along the landing and down the stairs.

I’ve always loved seeing houses stripped back like this to where you can see the structure so clearly. Always feels like anything is now possible.

Out into the yard.
Out into the yard.
Occupied homes on either side.
Occupied homes on either side.
Even the kitchen window's been bricked up here.
Even the kitchen window’s been bricked up here, damply.
A breeze blocked back door.
A breeze blocked back door.
Sunlight in the downstairs back room.
Sunlight in the downstairs back room.
In the living room. Sunlight snaking in like the future.
In the living room. Sunlight sneaking in like the future.
One last look around.
One last look around.
Through to the hall.
Through to the hall.
All clean, all clear.
All clean, all clear.
Ready to begin again.
Ready to begin again.

Once any structural needs are clear, number 49 should start to be turned back into someone’s home any day now.

From 'empty' to 'home'
From ’empty’ to ‘home’
Together with 9 other Community Land Trust houses.
Together with 9 other Community Land Trust houses.

All two bedroom. Five for rent, five for shared ownership. And I’ll be back regularly to see how it’s all going.

Meanwhile, across the road?

Liverpool Mutual Homes are at work here, and round the corner in Jermyn Street.
Liverpool Mutual Homes are at work here, and round the corner in Jermyn Street.
Some scaffolding being taken away.
Some scaffolding being taken away.

As the first five LMH houses in Cairns Street are almost done now.

Lots of people here today getting them finished off.
Lots of people here today getting them finished off.
While the CLT houses watch enviously from across the road.
While the CLT houses watch enviously from across the road.
Their days in the sun now arriving.
Their days in the sun now arriving.
So great to see.
So great to see.
A busy day on Cairns Street.
A busy day on Cairns Street.

Taken from the angle where I’ve taken so many photographs of not much happening over the years.

September 2013.
September 2013.
Watched over by ghost signs from the past.
Watched over by ghost signs from the past.

Reminding me to remind you again that there is a training opportunity right now for 50 young people to get involved here.Awareness day flyer2

Seventeen young people signed up at this event, so there are still plenty more places available. Get in touch with Merseyside Youth Association at the email and phone number above if you’re interested.

Meanwhile at this end of Cairns Street, near to Princes Avenue, Plus Dane are on site.
Meanwhile at this end of Cairns Street, near to Princes Avenue, Plus Dane are on site.
So the whole place is coming back to life.
So the whole place is coming back to life.
Piece by piece, brick by brick.
Piece by piece, brick by brick.
And on the other side of the skips and the clearings?
And on the other side of the skips and the clearings?

Decent homes and a new life for hundreds of people. And for the place itself. Granby 4 Streets, coming back to life on a sunny afternoon.

Back on Princes, at the end of Cairns Street, I get the bus home.
Back on Princes, at the end of Cairns Street, I get the bus home.

Don’t forget, the new Granby 4 Streets CLT website for detailed information about what’s being done by whom, how to get involved and applying for a home. And do pass the word around about the training opportunity for 50 young people.

Still construction training opportunities for young people available. See above poster for contact details.

6 Replies to “On site: In Granby today”

  1. Thanks for that uplifting update Ronnie. So wonderful to see life being breathed back into good, solid houses, that will once again be comfortable homes in a community.
    It’s great to witness the power of people insisting that demolition was not the best option.
    It happened in our road and the three surrounding it in the 1970s, Doreen Jones wanted to flatten the lot for a link to the M62, but protests and people pulling together had that stopped. Now it’s a conservation area.
    The “Experts” are not always right!

    Reply

  4. I love seeing old buildings stripped down to their essentials. Fascinating to see what the brickwork looks like (I know – archaeogeek alert!). It’s especially good to see then coming back into use, muscles and skin being layered onto the Victorian skeletons.

    Reply

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