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The roof and part of a listed building in Dale Street in Liverpool are being removed to stabilise it after it was found to be in an unsafe condition and in danger of collapsing.
No 87 Dale Street is part of Georgian terrace dating from about 1819, which has a Grade 11 listing. It has been empty for 11 years.
It was included within the Castle Street Conservation Area in 1976. When it became vacant the council attempted to secure its future, along with a development- partner, as part of a scheme in the area which included the Magistrates Court and Bridewell. However, delays experienced in assembling the sites allowed rapid deterioration to take hold .The aspirations for the site ultimately came to nothing because of delays in relocating the courts and the global economic downturn.
Discussions were held in 2008 with a Building Preservation Trust but an assessment of the work required to make the terrace safe would have cost more than half a million pounds, far more than the value of the building.
A recent survey of the building found the interior was in a perilous condition and a risk to public safety as well as a major health and safety hazard. The only safe course of action to prevent no 87 from collapsing is to partially deconstruct the building until it is stabilised.
The building was listed by English Heritage in February 2008. Surveyors from English Heritage have inspected it and have agreed that the deconstruction work needs to take place
Restraining structures are being built in the remaining part of the terrace to protect them.
Materials removed from 87 will be kept in storage and could be used in any future restoration work.
A number of options are being considered about the future of the building, including discussing with prospective partners to find a long term solution.
The City Council has made considerable efforts to preserve this historic building but safety issues are paramount and every assessment of this building is that it now constitutes a risk to the public in its current state and there is no realistic option other than to deconstruct part of it to make it safe.
(CD)
