Developers deny jumping the gun on demolition

Mar 4 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

A DEVELOPER last night denied it was in the process of demolishing a building in Liverpool’s historic Hope Street.

Maghull Developments came under fire at the weekend after scaffolding, rubble and a skip appeared outside Josephine Butler House about a week before Liverpool council’s planning committee was due to visit the site ahead of the hearing of a planning application.

The company has submitted plans to demolish the 1861 building on the corner of Hope Street and Myrtle Street and erect a new five/six storey building with retail, food and drink uses.

Last night, it insisted it was carrying out “specialist restoration work to the stone facade”.

But campaigners said they were suspicious being as the company intends to demolish the building which is currently the subject a listing application to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Maghull’s plans for Josephine Butler House forms part of Maghull’s £100m scheme for four sites around Hope Street.

Last week the Hahnemann building, also part of the £100m scheme, was given Grade II listed status ahead of the council’s planning committee last Tuesday.

The £100m project, which includes plans for a hotel, apartments and shops was deferred by the planning committee until March 11 to allow the councillors to visit the site.

Last night Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman called on the council to put a preservation notice on the building.

It is understood council officials are reluctant to go down that path as the authority could incur the costs of stopping the building work if the listing application failed.

A council spokesman said: “We are aware English Heritage have been asked to look again at the building and Maghull Developments are aware of this.”

The city’s environment leader Cllr Berni Turner said: “Why would they restore the stone facade when they are planning to knock the building down?

“Don’t treat us like we are dim.

“The building is an intrinsic part of what makes Hope Street so special, but there’s very little the council can do short of me sleeping under the scaffolding.”

Michael Hanlon, chief executive of Maghull Group, said: “We have undertaken in excess of two years of pre-application consultations with the city council planning department, English Heritage, Liverpool Vision, and the local conservation officers regarding our proposals for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Josephine Butler House site.

“The building is not listed and is not within a conservation area.Š

We are undertaking some specialist restoration work to the stone facade.

“This has been programmed for several weeks since we received a report from English Heritage confirming they had no interest in the building and it’s not of listable quality or status.”

An English Heritage spokesman said: “English Heritage has been asked by the DCMS to provide advice on a request to spot list Josephine Butler House.”

“Until such time as the DCMS has decided whether or not to list the building we are not in a position to comment further.”

davidbartlett