Stinky Ink Bartlett Comes Up Smelling Of Roses.

Well having been critical even a bit over critical of  David Bartlett, he has sat down, listened, and understood the massive heritage issues that are about to unfold with Peel Holdings Liverpool Waters.
We have always believed he is a good bloke, and have kept his blog on our blog roll even while critical of his editorial, and we have every right to be critical with the Daily Post and Echo.
I hope that with a little bit more attention to matters of huge and significant importance, David can continue in this vein.
It will be of benifit to us all to have an equality of arms and a say in what is after all our city.
Our History is our future.
This is David Barlett filling in for Phil Redmond the professional scouser who is away sucking up to some government minister or two on how he can further his own career.

Daily Post column: Walking the World Heritage Site tight rope

By David Bartlett on Jul 30, 10 08:15 AM
I've been asked again to fill in for Phil Redmond's Daily Post column for a few weeks while he takes a break.

Here's this week's:
Liverpool's waterfront and city centre became a World Heritage Site in 2004 because it is "the supreme example of a commercial port at a time of Britain's greatest global influence".
The news was widely trumpeted - the city's heritage had been recognised and Liverpool was put on a par with the Pyramids and the Great Wall of China.
But just three years later Unesco sent a delegation to the city over concerns new developments threatened that very status.
After all was said and done Unesco's Heritage Committee decided the "outstanding universal value" of the WHS remained intact.
Unesco did however demand the council draw up of a blueprint of what developments should be allowed especially where tall buildings could go.
And the words "outstanding universal value" have been heard very little since - until this week.
For the past few months a curious dance has been going on behind the scenes between conservation watchdog English Heritage and developers Peel Holdings over the company's multi-billion Liverpool Waters project.
The company wants to regenerate the city's northern docklands with a series of skyscrapers creating more than 25,000 jobs and 14,000 apartments in a £5.5bn scheme.
Initial drawings for the project showed the docklands area covered in futuristic skyscrapers.
The latest set of drawings now bear little resemble as it turns out Peel Holdings have been forced to scale back the scheme over fears it could threaten the outstanding universal value of the WHS.
Despite this English Heritage still has serious reservations. Peel reckons a compromise will be reached as it has managed to do with the Wirral element of the scheme.
Wirral of course is no where near as controversial, given it does not have WHS status.
As is often the case with politics there is more at play than just the issue of the city's World Heritage Site status.
Peel, one of the biggest landowners in the North West, is seen by many as the great hope for regenerating north Liverpool - long identified as not having benefited as much as it could or should have from the city's wider renaissance.
Cue a careful balancing act.
Where the line is drawn between protecting the city's heritage remains to be seen.
Peel is correct when it says that currently much of the area earmarked for development is not accessible to the public and great swathes of docklands would be brought back into use.
It is to be hoped that a true compromise can be found, but not one that compromises the World Heritage Site.
To have Unesco inspectors in the city once was unfortunate, to have them here twice would be careless.
http://blogs.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/dalestreetblues/2010/07/daily-post-column-walking-the.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LiverpoolDailyPost-DaleStreetBlues+%28Liverpool+Daily+Post+-+Dale+Street+Blues%29

Maghull Developments want extra time for £100m Hope Street scheme.

I have just copied todays piece down considering David Bartlett did the same from me.
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/maghull-developments-ask-for-extension.html

Maghull Developments want extra time for £100m Hope Street scheme.
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/07/30/maghull-developments-want-extra-time-for-100m-hope-street-scheme-92534-26960211/
CONTROVERSIAL Maghull Developments has applied for more time to build a mothballed £100m scheme in Liverpool’s historic Hope Street.

The project to create more than 50 apartments, office space, a high-class mini market, restaurants and an underground car park was hit by the credit crunch.
Three sets of planning permissions for the scheme expire next year and the company wants an extension until 2014.
The project controversially involved knocking down the historic Josephine Butler House, on the junction of Hope Street and Myrtle Street.
Ahead of the first planning application in 2008, the company was accused of “hacking the front” off the historic building causing an outrage.
When the credit crunch hit, the company admitted it could not proceed with the project and knocked part of the 1867 former hospital building down to create a 14-space car park.
Critics of the scheme are calling on the council to refuse the extension.
Last night Richard Gee from Gee Squared Ltd, the planning consultant acting for the company, said: “Maghull Developments has applied to extend its planning consent for Josephine Butler House, 2 Blackburne Place and 68 Hope Street, which expires in 12 months’ time, for a further period of three years.
“The extension will allow for a market upturn before any speculative development begins.”
The company has already reconfigured part of the scheme.
Maghull refurbished the Hahnemann Building to provide short-term flexible office accommodation.
But it hopes to revert to its original plan to convert the Grade II- listed building at 58 Hope Street into a four star 50-bedroom boutique hotel with a bar, restaurant and day-spa.
The firm was forced back to the drawing board with its original plans for a larger hotel in the Hahnemann Building after the building was listed in 2008.
These plans are not part of the extension application.
Simon Taylor, member of the Rodney Street Association, who lives in nearby Canning Street is one of a number of people to lodge objections.
Deputy council leader Paul Brant and Cllr Steve Munby have also objected.
Mr Taylor said: “Given that the case was not straightforward first time round I do not think planning permission should automatically be extended.
“A re-think of the whole project is needed, it is a different climate.”
He said the plans would cramp the already busy street.
“I am also concerned the volume of cars in the area will exacerbate parking problems.”
Last year the Daily Post revealed how Liverpool John Moores University had netted £10m from the sale of buildings which form the basis of Maghull’s scheme.

Joe Anderson, Backs Peel Holdings, Wirral Waters.

Not sure what to make of Uncle Joe yet. Not sure if, as the Fib-Dems were devious he is a bit more, simple, should I say. It has been said to me that he makes Warren Bradley look clever. But I dont think even Warren Bradley would support the competition.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/07/30/liverpool-and-wirral-council-leaders-agree-not-to-disagree-over-wirral-waters-plans-92534-26961001/

If Uncle Joe is to support Liverpool Waters and supposing he is on board and has been hooked in by Lyndsey Ashworth of Peel, why would you support a scheme that is going to be in direct competition and will start ahead of one on your own side of the river.

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/liverpool-waters-english-heritage-hold.html

It is possibly a good idea and considering there are no heritage issues,  But what is the payback when our council leader goes hand in hand with a massive developer, wasn't that what the Fib-Dem spivs did and look at the world heritage mess they left behind.

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-anderson-to-save-liverpools.html

Correspondent in his musings calls for less of Joe's gimmicks. http://condensedthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/07/less-of-gimmicks-joe.html

http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/06/frank-mckenna-suckles-at-breast-of-joe.html

Liverpool Waters-English Heritage Sound The Right Noises, But Who Is Calling The Tune.

I think I will just print the whole Daily Post article.  http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2010/07/28/liverpool-waters-downscaled-over-world-heritage-site-status-fears-92534-26945260/
I dont think they will mind as he just copied down one of my posts. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/liverpool-waters-english-heritage-hold.html


THE developer of the multi-billion pound Liverpool Waters project has been forced to scale it back over concerns it could threaten the city’s World Heritage Site status.

Peel Holdings wants to regenerate the city’s northern docklands with a series of skyscrapers creating more than 25,000 jobs and 14,000 apartments in a £5.5bn development.
Peel has now agreed no building on the Mersey waterfront will be higher than 15 storeys and eight skyscrapers have been removed from one of two clusters of tall buildings, after conservation watchdog English Heritage raised concerns.
But a leaked document shows that despite the changes English Heritage still believes the project could be harmful to the “outstanding universal value” of the WHS.
Top officials from English Heritage’s Advisory Committee will meet today to discuss how serious the threat is and what should be done.
Last night Peel Holdings said it was confident it could reach a compromise with English Heritage ahead of submitting a planning application in the autumn.
Peel are keen to avoid a formal objection from English Heritage as it would increase the chances of a public inquiry being called in to the scheme.
The company’s Wirral Waters scheme on the other side of the Mersey will be considered by planners in the borough next week.

Lindsey Ashworth, Peel’s development director, said English Heritage had initially raised concerns with the Wirral element but eventually a compromise had been found.
“I think we will find a solution and some common ground, but that does not mean removing all the tall buildings,” he said. He said the company did not mind having had to reduce the number of tall buildings.
“Over the years you fine tune these things. I think what we have got is a really nicely balanced scheme. We are 75% there with English Heritage.”
A secret report to today’s meeting reveals English Heritage’s concerns about the Liverpool scheme.
“The assessment outlined in this report concludes that the impact would be harmful to the significance of the WHS.
“The developer will need to make further significant amendments to mitigate the harmful impacts of the current scheme and it is far from certain Peel will be prepared to do so,” it reads.
When Peel announced its plans in 2007 the drawings featured dozens of skyscrapers including two landmark towers seen in the forefront of the picture above right.
The new plans, seen by the Daily Post, no longer feature the towers or many other of the taller buildings.
Instead the tall buildings have been located in two clusters.
One cluster starts at Princes Dock with a scaled down Shanghai Tower – named as such in the hope it will attract Chinese investment.

The Shanghai Tower has been reduced to 55 storeys from between 60 and 65.
The other cluster at Clarence Dock will feature seven skyscrapers instead of 15.
The leaked English Heritage report shows how the national watchdog has had serious reservations for some time: “Committee agreed in January that the masterplan would cause significant harm to the outstanding universal value (OUV) of the WHS, the setting of listed buildings and the character and appearance of Stanley Dock conservation area. The proposals have been amended in response to our advice and a series of CABE (Commission for Architecture and Built Environment) design reviews.”
The report states that in October 2009 English Heritage said: “The proposals for Clarence Dock and Central Docks will need to be carefully assessed to ensure that they do not compromise the OUV, authenticity and integrity to the WHS.”
The committee said development should only be permitted if it could be clearly shown the universal value would not be compromised.
“The case for tall buildings at Clarence Dock has not been made and impact on the OUV of the WHS and setting of a range of designated heritage assets would be harmful.
“Serious consideration should be given to advising the removal of the proposed cluster from the masterplan.”
Last night an English Heritage spokesman said: “We are in pre-application discussions with the developer and Liverpool City Council, as these papers are not in the public domain we are unable to comment further until a planning application has been lodged.”

Stinky Ink Bartlett, comes up smelling of roses.
But please go to the comments section of David Bartletts article.

Liverpools World Heritage Officer is Refused Lottery Funding

It was meant to be a celebration.
LIVERPOOL WORLD HERITAGE SITE CELEBRATION, INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT. Lottery funding was sought.
Instead it was thrown out of the water on 17th June by The Lottery Fund at first round pass stage, the very first.
The rejection is damning.
Committee considers the project to be too expensive. There was a lack of justification for the level of staff which the project was requesting and the committee were concerned that the level of grant had increased significantly since the scheme were given pre-application advice.
Committee were concerned that there was a lack of base line data relating to the current interpretive provision in the area. They considered some kind od audit would have been useful to illustrate where the gaps in provision were. This would havehelped the project to justify the range of activities which they wanted to develop.
Committee felt that there was a lack of rational behind the capital works which the project was to include. Why these items?
There was a concern that the grant funding would be used to contunue existing staff posts.

This is not very good really. Is our World Heritage Officer John Hinchliffe really up to the job? In fact is he a waste of space? Or is he part of the Development Cabal?
http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/02/john-hinchliffe-liverpools-world.html

Joe Anderson should look at what he does and ask questions of where his loyalties lie.

Liverpool Waters-English Heritage Hold Secret Meetings To Discuss Our City.

Tomorrow 28th July a secret meeting will take place where Greame Ives will present a English Heritage report into the Peel proposals to carve up the rest of the World Heritage Site compliled by him and Henry Owen-John. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/07/henry-owen-john-same-old-english.html
We can, be in no doubt, still lose WHS status because of these proposals. Unesco can and will act.
Overall Universal Value can and will be hit is these go ahead in their present form. EH, have said however that there are significant changes that need to be carried out and some of them are for the better.


In a confidential report prepared after another secret meeting at 1700hrs on the 14 July, between Joe Anderson and Baroness Kay, along with Mike Burchnall and John Kelly with Henry Owen-John present the Peel scheme was discussed. 
 
Joe Anderson, then had a candlelit dinner at 18.30hrs with Baroness Andrews the Chairman of English Heritage in the swanky Panoramic Restraunt, just the two of them.
The EH report compiled by Graeame Ives says; Buildings on the riverfront should be no higher than 15 storeys and that the Shanghai tower should be reduced significantly. There is a plan to reduce it to 55 Storeys and plonk it on plot 3 on Princes Dock. What a joke how can they even think this. This will change the Skyline into Shanghai and I dont say that kindly.

The meeting and presentation 28th July 2010 is entitled Liverpool Waters Master Plan.

The picture is itself from a Governments Report 2010 and guess what they use a picture from 2002 and you all know what that despoilt view looks like now. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/02/liverpool-waters-glass-pie-in-sky-we.html
Our understanding is that an ex EH historic buildings advisor and English Heretic Peter De Figuirido is employed by Peel Holdings. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/04/who-polices-heritage-police.html

Another secret meeting took place on the 13th April where the Liverpool World Heritage Steering Group (what!!) all touched each other up at the Government Office for the North West at Cunard Buildings. This went on from a meeting on the 12 January.
Ian Wray was Chair and it was predominately led by John Hinchliffe our very own World Heritage waste of space. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/02/john-hinchliffe-liverpools-world.html
John Belchem is on the WHS steering committee as is Sarah Jane Farr as is Keith Blundell (tourism).
Louise O'Brien daughter of Fred is always around these things, but does not go out front.
What is even more alarming that old "Fuzzy felt" Fleming is on this steering committee too.
You would have thought he has done enough damage, but no. As the name suggests it is a  set up to steer through contentious plans...in secret.
More to follow.


Lottery funding has been refused for Liverpool World Heritage Site Celebration, Interpretation and Education Project.
Maybe they can see right through them.

Maghull Developments-Ask For Extension To Josephine Butler House Planning Applications.

Well when I say Josephine Butler House, I mean, what was once Josephine Butler House and is now a piece of Tarmac with four car parking spaces, after Maghull Developments hacked off everyone in the city while hacking off the facade, while a listing application was going through.

What has also happened, now,  is that several other applications have been made for the extensions to planning applications for No 2 Blackburne House and 68 Hope Street. It seems a mistake has been made with the new planning applications. (See letter from Chris Riddleland of the planning office below).

Round up all the usual suspects Mumby, Brant and Burridge who were never around when you need them, who may, choose their schemes to object to carefully on a most publicity basis, and this will create the usual kick off with the press. http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2010/04/mann-island-is-penny-finally-dropping.html

Here is one we did earlier regarding JB House http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/03/httpwww.html Here is another about Hahnermann House http://liverpoolpreservationtrust.blogspot.com/2009/04/liverpool-preservation-trust-11-13.html

letter from Riddleland of the Planning Dept.

Mr Colquhoun,


The applicant’s details were submitted in error by the Planning Agent, Richard Gee, who has subsequently written in and requested that the applicant’s name be changed to Maghull Developments.
Planning and listed building consents (07F/3274), (07L/3275), (07F/3276) & (07L/3278) are due to expire on the 8th April, 14th April 2011, 9th May 2011 & 26th March 2011, respectively. The latest applications (10L/1513), (10F/1515), (10F/1517) & (10L/1518) are applying to extend the time period for implementing these original planning permissions, for a further three year period.

I trust this is of assistance.
Regards,
Chris Ridland
Planning
Municipal Buildings
Dale Street
Liverpool
L2 2DH
Tel: 0151 233 5628
Fax: 0151 233 4290
E-Mail chris.ridland@liverpool.gov.uk
Web: www.liverpool.gov.uk
2010 Year of Health and Wellbeing
http://www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk/