Tower blocks disappearing from Wirral’s skyline

Feb 29 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Birkenhead News

THREE tower blocks in Wirral are set to be demolished.

Melrose and Thornridge in Moreton and Thorsway in Rock Ferry will be razed to the ground in the next couple of months.

The blocks will be dismantled gently using a crane so as not to disrupt people in the area.

The demolition brings the total of tower blocks flattened to six including Brooklands in Birkenhead, Flambards in Woodchurch and Moreton’s Sandborne which have already been demolished.

Wirral Partnership Homes took over Wirral Council’s housing stock including 15 tower blocks.

Most of the blocks were built in the 1960's and needed to be refurbished.

They were under-occupied and were a magnet for antisocial behaviour.

Six of the blocks have been retained as part of a £27 million investment programme.

These are Wallasey’s Liscard House, Sunningdale in Moreton, Vittoria Court and Neston Gardens in Birkenhead and Knowsley Court and The Towers in Rock Ferry.

The deluxe accommodation will have new kitchens and bathrooms installed, new heating systems, new balconies, improved security and communal facilities along with external repairs and new entrances. They will also be more energy-efficient.

The other blocks have been de-commissioned and a further three are under consideration to be bulldozed.

The project is due to be completed by March 2013 and more than 300 tenants have been re-housed.

The cleared land areas are earmarked to build houses, although there are no definite plans.

This is part of Wirral Partnership Homes’ bigger scheme to build around 400 houses.

Brian Seddon, senior projects manager at WPH, told the News: “The original tenants were re-housed into alternative accommodation of their choice.

“We arranged and paid for their removals and they were also entitled to a home loss payment.

“The cleared site will be considered for future new build housing but because of our other current priorities this will be some time in the future.

“In the meantime we will consider other short-term uses.

“WPH want to deliver our high rise investment programme in an effective manner that meets the needs of current and future customers, ensuring that design elements encompass innovation and value for money.

“We want to make sure all our homes meet the Decent Homes standard and promote the long term sustainability of our remaining high rise housing.”