The building on Oakfield Road in Anfield collapsed on May 9 last year
The collapsed house on Walton Breck Road
A derelict barber shop that collapsed last year remains a skeletal shadow of its former self. But Liverpool City Council will not be taking any further action on the broken-down building – as the responsibility for dealing with the problem “lies solely with the owner”.
The house on Oakfield Road in Anfield, next to the Morrisons Daily petrol station, collapsed on May 9 last year. Bricks and debris scattered across the pavement and the road was cordoned off between the petrol station and Hawkesworth Street.
Part of the building was torn down by Liverpool Council the following day, and the area remains partially closed off with wooden boards and plastic fencing. It was believed the former shop would be demolished – but eight months on, its future remains unclear.
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Section 78 of The Building Act 1984 means buildings which are deemed an imminent risk to the public can be seized by the local authority. But a Liverpool Council spokesman said: “Regarding 184 Oakfield Road, Building Control undertook emergency action under S.78 BA 1984 last year. The Council is satisfied that currently the building is not causing a further danger to the public.
“If the building is reported as dangerous the Council will respond and seek to reinspect. However, the integrity of the building lies solely with the owner and it is they who needs to take action.”
This means the building now lies in the same state as a number of other derelict structures in the area. In Liverpool City Centre, the crumbling remains of the former Rapid Hardware store have stood empty on Renshaw Street for many years. Plans to develop the end of the terrace, near Cropper Street, into a seven-storey apartment block were approved by Liverpool City Council in 2016 – however, the building remains disused, and YPG developers, who submitted the plans, are no longer involved with the site.
An assessment of the site, carried out in May last year, found the former shop “is not in an immediately dangerous condition… and appears structurally stable”.