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We left Norris Green last week in the early 1970s as one of ‘the most stable and respectable’ of Liverpool’s council estates. (1) Some people think that paints a rather rosy picture of an already troubled estate but there’s no doubt that by the later seventies Norris Green had real problems and a terrible local reputation. What on earth went wrong?
Nationally, the role of council housing changed. The 1977 Homeless Persons Act set a statutory duty to house certain vulnerable groups. The 1979 Thatcher government restricted new construction of council housing and diminished the existing stock through Right to Buy. In Norris Green, one third of the houses were purchased by tenants within five years.
This suggests that the Estate remained attractive to some but council housing became residual – new tenants were increasingly those in difficulty, lacking employment or stable circumstances. The decline of the Liverpool economy didn’t help matters as traditional employment opportunities plummeted.
A 1981 Merseyside Police survey of the Norris Green revealed that almost one third of those of working age were unemployed and three quarters of the tenants were in receipt of Housing Benefit. Over 75 per cent of children received free school meals. It went on to identify ‘a downward spiral of deprivation and communal fragmentation with all that implies for the health, wealth and well-being of residents’. (2)
Meanwhile, there was an elderly population of long-term residents – almost one in five of the Estate’s population was over 60 – who noticed these changes: (3)
In my day the houses were given to steady respectable hard-working people who kept the property nice. Now though, the houses are given to anybody, and you can see, they are certainly not well kept. Everywhere inside the estate looks a disgrace. The houses are never painted or repaired, and the children are allowed to roam around, and do anything. Fifty years ago, mugging, vandalism, drug taking was unheard of round here, not like today.
Another commented, ‘terrible types are being given the houses nowadays. I’ll leave that subject alone if you don’t mind, it upsets me so much’.
Norris Green – like many similar estates – had become (or was seen as) a ‘no-go area’ – rife with drug-dealing, gangs, car crimes and muggings. If crime was a potent factor in impoverishing its residents’ lives, fear of crime was equally so.
All this would be enough to cause problems but Norris Green’s perfect storm of disadvantage was completed by the severe physical decline of the Estate.
Residents complained of poor maintenance and slow repairs and blamed Corporation neglect, made more apparent as new owner-occupiers improved their homes purchased under Right to Buy:
These houses were well looked after years ago. Every house was decorated inside every 7 years, every 3½ years they did the downstairs, every 3½ years the upstairs. I remember mother used to go to the Works Department to choose the wallpaper. Every 5 years the outside was done and any repairs they were there. The houses are just neglected today, look, a lot are boarded up because they can’t be bothered to repair them.
A sympathetic view would suggest tight local government finances but there are those who, remembering the terrible inefficiency of the Housing Department in those days, suspect corruption.
Certainly, the Council’s housing policies were short-termist. However grateful the original tenants had been for their new homes, those non-parlour homes with a downstairs bathroom were clearly no longer fit for purpose. In 1970-1971 a limited modernisation programme had taken place which installed prefabricated ‘Gilbury Units’ incorporating a bathroom, sink and WC – flat-roofed composite extensions containing one small window – to the rear of 550 houses. This solution would cause problems of its own in the years to come.
Thereafter planned maintenance was scaled down and in 1983 the Militant-controlled Labour council halted improvements to the Estate completely.
The problem of the 3000 ‘Boot and Boswell’ pre-cast concrete homes could not be ignored, however. These had been faulty from the outset. The cheap sulphur clinker used in the manufacture of the concrete had led to cracking and shrinkage within two years of their construction and problems of damp and rust would plague these homes and make them very difficult to heat. They were officially declared defective and unmortgageable in 1985. (4)
These homes were progressively vacated and shuttered – a necessary measure but it did nothing to help the appearance or ‘feel’ of the Estate.
Belatedly, in 1983, the City Council launched an Urban Regeneration Strategy. This, though it targeted the neighbouring Croxteth and Gillmoss Estates, did not originally address the myriad problems of Norris Green.
In 1988, after intense lobbying from the two Norris Green tenants’ associations, three of the seven neighbourhoods in the Estate were declared Priority Areas. But only two-thirds of homes had been improved in the first area before the Strategy was abandoned and resources withdrawn.
Hillary Burrage, whose was a social worker on the Estate in this period, recalls her experiences: (5)
Here were elderly men who seemed to survive solely on Guinness, bread and marg; here were children with disability so severe that they had to live day-in, day-out in their parents’ lounge; here were old ladies who promised fervently to pray for me, simply because I was the first person they had spoken with for weeks.
Here, in fact, was a land, originally designed as the vision for the future, which, by those far-off days of the early 1970s, few knew, and almost everyone had forgotten.
This, thankfully, is not the end of the story – nor is it, of course, the entire story. Many residents continued to value their homes and their estate, even in these hard times. But, though regeneration can be a dirty word in the world of social housing, it was desperately needed in Norris Green.
The replacement of the Gilbury Units – a poor solution from the outset – began in 1990. By 1997 all 550 had been replaced by brick-built extensions.
In 1993 the Council received £27m under the Government’s Estate Action Programme. 1073 council and 723 owner-occupied houses in the Sedgemoor neighbourhood of the Estate were provided with central heating and double glazing and walls and fences were upgraded.
In 1999, it was accepted that the Boot and Boswell houses should be demolished. The first tenants were ‘decanted’ in the following year and by the summer of 2006 835 of the remaining 1509 properties had been demolished.
Meanwhile, in March 2002, two-thirds of Council tenants in Liverpool voted to transfer ownership of their homes to a new registered social landlord, Cobalt Housing. After this, we enter the brave new world of social housing and a fragmented nexus of housing associations, property developers, ‘affordable homes’ for purchase and smaller allocations of social housing and, frankly, the picture becomes too complex to detail.
To provide a flavour only, the property developers New City Vision began Phase 1 of their Ellergreen development – a rebranding of what had become known as the Boot Estate – in 2006: 90 houses for social rent to be let by Cobalt and 104 homes for sale – ‘two and three-bedroom mews and semis, three and four-bed detached houses and a four-bedroomed, 3 storey mews property’ as they are described in modern ‘developer-speak’. (6)
In 2011, Inpartnership – a ‘Manchester-based niche regeneration specialist’ and their ‘development partner’ Countryside Properties began Phase 1 of a six-phase £200m scheme to redevelop a 63 acre area of Norris Green, providing initially 60 homes – 15 properties for sale on the open market, 25 social rented and 20 ‘intermediate units, otherwise known as home share offers’ through Cobalt. (7)
In 2012, Liverpool Mutual Homes refurbished 74 homes on Broad Lane. (8)
Liverpool’s Labour mayor, Joe Anderson, claims at least that the Council – now acting as a ‘strategic partner’ in the provision of social and affordable housing – is finally addressing Norris Green’s long-running and deep-rooted problems:
This is an exciting time for Norris Green, and the days of its notoriety as ‘the Boot Estate’ are coming to an end. These new homes demonstrate our full commitment to the neighbourhood and I’m sure they will play a key role in strengthening community confidence and driving up the quality of lives. The regeneration of Norris Green is a key strategic priority for Liverpool and the region.
In July 2013, Liverpool City Council held a Bidders’ Day for a new ‘Strategic Housing Delivery Partner’ to provide the city with 1500 new homes and bring 1000 properties back into use.
There was a time when progressive councils built themselves. These pioneers decried the inefficiency of private contractors and deplored the profits of middlemen. Common sense and principle alike were served by their insistence on housing built and let by the local state. Those days have gone and social housing today exists in a miasma of partnerships and corporate interests.
But beyond all the developers and schemes, there are grass-roots projects, and within these there are people trying to make a difference. I’ll leave the last word with them: (8)
I think Norris Green is a fantastic area. There is still a lot of real community spirit left here but I do think we have got a lot of work to do now because of what’s gone on and the way it’s been reported…
I love the people in this area – everyone is dead friendly and has got a good sense of humour. If you don’t know them you can smile at them and they will smile back. It’s just a minority that cause problems.
Sources
(1) Barbara Weinberger, Liverpool Estates Survey, 1973, quoted in Richard Harris, Peter Larkham (eds), Changing Suburbs: Foundation, Form and Function (1999)
(2) Cited in Harris, Larkham (eds), Changing Suburbs: Foundation, Form and Function
(3) This and the following quotes are drawn from Madeline McKenna, The Development of Suburban Council Housing Estates in Liverpool between the Wars, University of Liverpool PhD, 1986
(4) Vinny Timmins, A Brief History of Norris Green
(5) Hillary Burrage, ‘Croxteth And Norris Green, Liverpool’, blog posting, September 6 2007
(6) BigDig Liverpool, ‘Ellergreen (Boot Estate)’, ND
(7) Details and the following quote are taken from the Homes and Communities Agency, ‘Regeneration of Norris Green Takes Significant Step Forward’, March 1 2011
(8) Stephen Cousins, ‘Broad Lane: from Estate Hell to Housing Heaven‘, Construction Manager, June 2 2013
(9) Participants in the Ellergreen Young People’s Project quoted in Paddy Shennan, ‘It’s time to focus on the positives in Norris Green’, Liverpool Echo, July 11 2012
Thank you for (another) fascinating article.
“There was a time when progressive councils built themselves. These pioneers decried the inefficiency of private contractors and deplored the profits of middlemen. Common sense and principle alike were served by their insistence on housing built and let by the local state.”
We need that approach back. It would enable young people to be taken on and trained as real apprentices, not the minimum wage jobs that take the title now.
It would employ large numbers of tradesmen, and it would make the best use of the money available.
It would also however need a county architect, quantity surveyors, clerk of works etc and I don’t imagine any council today can afford to reinstate that former glory.
For the record a family member was a local authority architect in Cambridge in the 1960s hence my interest, and the system, at the time, worked very well.
Couldn’t agree more but you’re right too on the difficulties. Same with competitive tendering and contracting out – once councils lose the capability and expertise, they can’t compete and we make a world safe for Serco and the like.
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Thank you for this short housing history, going from being the “first” in every social aspect to “short termism” post 2cnd war. It is a very long and complex history, however I cannot believe that the period 1983/1987 which produced twice as many houses/bungalows with gardens as EVERY OTHER Local Auth. PUT TOGETHER is not even mentioned! The so called “Militant Controlled Labour Council” in which 13 out of 49 councillors, supported Militant, ALL elected Lab. proposed a radical housing programme, they won a majority city wide vote 1983, 4 1/2 thousand homes were built, as well as Nurseries and Sports Centres, unless you were there the politics can sometimes get in the way! On a programme supported by some 400 Councils of delayed budgets NOT the Lpool Lab. programme, a political campaign raged, finally Lpool and Lambeth Councils were left fighting the Thatcher Gov. and by then the Kinnock Lab. Leadership. These very brave and courageous Councillors were removed and surcharged by Tory Law Lords, not the voters of Lpool. Please look in the archives of LCC Electoral Office for the official post war record Labour votes which continued right up to 1992…..every penny of the surcharge was raised by the surcharged councillors and their supporters nationally. That level of commitment, campaigning does not exist today, and as with the article I am responding to, somehow the 47 as they became known (2 of the original had unfortunately died) get conveniently written out of history. You cannot conflate 40+ years of municipal history without very clearly dealing with the politics, complex though that is, of our lovely city. Just check the pathetic turnouts for local, Nat, Mayoral, Police Commissioner and by elections, 11% recently! This is NOT what I spent a lifetime in the Lab/TU movement for, politics and Housing Policy will, and. In some places is, being rebuilt from the bottom up ie from the community. Thank you again for the info…. Municipal Dreams are vital!
Cathy, thanks for taking the time to respond – it’s always great to get some feedback.
I think it’s fascinating what the Militant-led (or however you prefer to term it) Liverpool council achieved in the mid-80s and I’d love to write about it someday. Do you have any sources or publications you’d recommend?
Of course, in the post you read, I was just writing on Norris Green – I certainly wasn’t claiming to write the definitive history of council housing in Liverpool – but, as I’ve said, I’ll hope to write some more in the future. There’s a good story to tell.
ok municipal dreams see these house’s that are nearly a 100 years old are full of carsegenic lead based paint which went on when they were built and when new couples take these houses and get out the sand paper or burning guns they dont know they are taking years off their lives do “cobalt” give people the heads up no they don’t so cut to the chase they now about such matters but yet again they be an ostrich so basically they are all death traps but “cobalt” bury their heads in the sand now deal with that one be prepared for machiavellian approach because that is what they will do just get on a lap top educate yourself and be enlightened
gamechanger
Very interesting, reminds me of some parts of Toxteth where I grew up. I often pass through Norris Green on the way to visit my friends. Very well written article, I will keep your pages in my favourites :-)
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed the piece.
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through 80s 90s i was one of them who was anti social and took this beautiful area of liverpool for granted , today im ashamed of my antics in norris and would like to apologise to the lovely people in norris green , im sorry
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I`m thinking of buying a house in Norris Green and letting it to a good respectable family who will have a home for life and give them security and listen to their problems.
I understand that there were and possibly still are serious social difficulties in the area, but I also believe that there are enough good people out there who just want to settle in a place that they know and love and grow their family up.
I will be a Landlord who responds to needs making sure my tenants are happy and comfortable and secure.
Please give me some feedback and if you think I`m not seeing the wood for the trees and need to take off my rose tinted glasses. Thanks for reading and trying to make a difference in Norris Green. Everyone deserves a chance to live a normal life.
Johnnie
Johnnie,
Thanks for your message and I wish you all the very best with what you’re trying to do. It’s great to hear of people trying to help other people make a go of things.
Personally, I’m just not close enough to the ground to give you the kind of advice and insight you want but you could try contacting Cobalt who are the local tenant-led housing association in Norris Green and north Liverpool: http://www.cobalthousing.org.uk/. They will have a better understanding than anyone of how things are and how they work and they might be willing to advise.
Good luck and all the best,
MD
MD
Many thanks for your comments and advise, of which I will follow up.
If you think of anything else, or anyone else who reads this then I will appreciate the feedback.
thanks again
Johnnie.
I need rent house.. We r respectable hard working people..
Johnny check your house is not full of original wood should check out old lead based paints very enlightening
Tommy… what a star you are for standing up and having the balls to apologise for your younger days, I was no angel either and realise that we need more people like you who can make a difference to lovely City and to Norris Green. I pat you on the back mate and will buy you a pint if we meet. I do hope that more people read your post and want to make a difference. cheers mate.
Thanks Stephen for that valuable piece of advice….much appreciated and I will certainly do that….cheers
The picture is of Sparrow Hall ?
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I’d be interested to know why the Labour council in 1983, which was supposed to be so fantastic in some people’s eyes, stopped improvements to Norris Green. Perhaps the area had a councillor who was either a Liberal or was Labour, but didn’t support Militant, as there is evidence some parts of the city saw their council housing deteriorate while others had theirs improved.
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Thank you for your very informative article. I spent my childhood in Norris Green – lead paint and all. We are non the worse for wear. What is needed is private entrepreneurs to go in there and just renovate and rent them to decent folks one at a time. Why does it always have to be the governments fault?
My Dad was born in Clanfield road in 1935. We moved back there as a family in 1963. I went to Monksdown school and later to Sherwoods Lane in Fazakerley. I loved my childhood there and often feel I need to live there again before my life is over. We moved to Wigan in 1971 and I still remember the longing to go “home” I was so homesick and cried every day for years. I wonder will anybody remember my Nana Maggie Hurst and my Dad Tommy. X.Susan Smith
Norris Green might have its problems, but it outlasted the flats that were built in the inner city around the same time and which were worn out by the seventies and have been largely demolished, and the disasters like the Piggeries that were rotten from the start and hated by the tenants. The conventional council estates of terraced and semi detached houses with gardens front and back like Norris Green were built to last, were popular with tenants and were popular as Right to Buy properties. In England, most people prefer to live in houses anyway and the trend to tower blocks and high density concrete estates came and went in ten years.