On the edge of Liverpool city centre, a historic tenements complex is a shell of its former self.
Eldon Grove in Vauxhall has played an important part in the city's history as the first example of council flats outside of London. It was originally constructed as part of a labourers’ village and was officially opened by the Countess of Derby in 1912.
But the grade II listed building which was once home to a tight knit community of families, and in later years students, has been left derelict for decades. It was long ago supposed to have been restored and converted into a state-of-the-art residential complex, surrounded by five blocks of new one and two bedroom apartments and some New York style-three bedroom duplex penthouses.
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Instead, the historic tenements, once described as the finest in the city, still lie in rack and ruin with holes in roof spaces and rats in the basements. For those living in the shadow of the imposing structure, its increasingly dilapidated appearance is impossible to ignore.
Many locals have some form of emotional connection with the building, as a place where their parents or other family members grew up. Rahman McCartney, 70, and his wife Ann Marie, 70, have lived in a house overlooking Eldon Grove for the last 45 years.
The couple appear to have given up hope of seeing the building restored to its former glory after deadlines for the project have come and gone over the years.
Ann Marie told the ECHO: "It's terrible. The people who own it wouldn't live here looking at it. As a child it was great, all families lived in them. All the kids played in there, there would always be a football match going on in the grove."
'We get our hopes up and then they're shot'
Margaret, 75, who asked to be referred to by her first name, grew up in the area and has lived in the same house for over 50 years. She recalls playing in the grounds of Eldon Grove when she was at school, when sports days would also be held there.
She said: "I used to play there myself when I was a kid, they were lovely. The kids played football in the grove, even the school had sports days in there when I was in school."
Margaret said a petition was circulated among residents many years ago asking them whether they would like Eldon Grove to be demolished. After seeing deadlines for the restoration come and go over the years, she has lost all hope in seeing the building restored and believes it should be demolished.
She added: "It's not a nice thing to look at everyday when you open your curtains. They're never going to do anything to them.
"We get our hopes up and then they're shot. It would be nice if they do what they're supposed to - they're supposed to do them up and put apartments in front."
'They used to call these streets quality streets because we know everyone'
Like Margaret, Marie, 65, has live in the streets surrounding Eldon Grove all of her life and has seen how much the area has changed over time. Marie said Eldon Grove is "overrun with rats" after being left empty for so long and has also become a target for anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.
But one thing that's remained constant in the 65 years she has lived in the area is the strong sense of community. Marie told the ECHO: "I was born in the next street so I know everyone. The neighbours are lovely, everyone looks out for each other.
"They used to call these streets quality streets because we know everyone. The people are still lovely that live here but it's what we've got to put up with - the surroundings. It's disgusting.
"It's overrun with rats. One of the neighbours [whose house] backs onto it said he found seven rats."
Back when Eldon Grove was still occupied by residents, Marie said her aunt used to live there. She now shares the frustration of many other residents who live in the shadow of the derelict tenements and has given up hope of seeing them restored.
Marie said: "I know it's a lovely building and wouldn't they be lovely flats if they did them up but I think they're undoable now because they've collapsed in the middle."
What the future holds for Eldon Grove
Since plans to restore the famous building were first approved back in December 2016, many deadlines for work to start have come and gone. In June 2020, developers Bond Street Liverpool said that once work started properly, the job of restoring the buildings could be completed in 12 to 16 months.
The plan for the site is for the derelict timber frame tenement building to be restored to its former glory, surrounded by five blocks of new one and two bedroom apartments and some New York style-three bedroom duplex penthouses. Speaking to the ECHO back in March last year, the developer said it was in talks with finance companies to get the funding in place for the restoration and it was hoped work could commence in the next few months, with a build programme estimated at 12 months.
When the ECHO approached Bond Street Liverpool for an update on the plans this week, a spokesperson for the developer said the finance for the restoration had now been agreed. However, they said the project had been met with more delays due to the cost of materials and labour increasing significantly over the last nine months, which means the entire project has had to be repriced.
Other hold-ups have been blamed on coronavirus restrictions, the number of organisations the developers need to consult with over listed buildings, and the necessary permissions needed from the council and conservation officers regarding the specifications of the repairs.
A spokesperson for the developer said: "The hardest part and the biggest and most important part is getting finance agreed and that's been agreed which is massive.
"We're waiting for the funds to come back in the next two weeks and then we can put a team in there to start work within eight weeks".
When the ECHO told the developer about the frustrations residents feel over the delayed restoration, the spokesperson said: "I understand where they're coming from but there's been some things that have been taken out of our hands, like for example covid took 12-18 months out of our hands but the future is very bright. It looks like covid is getting better, we're going to start getting on site and moving this forward".
