Early housing

Facade of 10 Hockenhall Alley, in a derelict state, November 2018

One of the earliest surviving houses in Liverpool is believed to be 10 Hockenhall Alley, a three-storey house originally forming part of a short terraced row. Built some time around the late 18th century, the house was Grade II listed in December 2008 due to its rarity and retention of some original features, such as narrow timber winder stair and lath and plaster ceilings.^[1] The alley was laid out off Dale Street some time between 1765 and 1785, as one of Liverpool's seven medieval streets. The surrounding houses were demolished during the 1880s, following which the house saw use as a pharmacy and clock workshop. Plans were submitted in 2015 to convert a nearby warehouse into a hostel, using number 10 Hockenall Alley as its reception.^[2]

Back-to-back courts

The first back-to-back houses built in Liverpool are believed to be around the 1780s. Typically built with limited space requirements, a typical house measured 10–12 square feet (0.93–1.11 m²) with a cellar, ground floor kitchen and bedrooms above.^[3] The size variations can be seen on old maps, such as from the early 20th century, showing back-to-back court houses on Hampton Street next to newer Victorian terraces on Upper Stanhope Street.^[4] Early in the Victorian era, the Select Committee on the Health of Towns reported in 1840 that Liverpool's court housing were unventilated, had minimal sanitary provisions and were filthy. Water was from a single communal pipe that could be cut-off if the tenant fell into debt. From 1861, Liverpool banned the construction of back-to-back houses.^[3]

The last surviving back-to-back court houses are in Pembroke Place, then known as Watkinson Terrace, with just two surviving houses in a former court of eight, now used as a rear shop extension.^[5] Historic maps show how the arrangement used to be, compared to the present day.^[6] The houses, coupled with the shops they are attached to, were given listed building status in September 2009. Originally with basements, they were later infilled with interiors described as sparse with little decorative detail and are likely among the last constructed.^[7]

Inter-war period

In 1919, Liverpool contained some of the worst slum housing in the country, with severe overcrowding that meant 11,000 families, representing 6.4% of the population, resided in single-room dwellings.^[18] Liverpool had consistently ranked the highest of major cities where families lived in a single room throughout the first 30 years of the 20th century.^[19] Housing stock owned by the council was less than 3000 dwellings.^[15] During the interwar period between 1919 and 1939, housing construction in Liverpool resulted in over 33,000 council houses being built, accommodating 140,000 local residents, roughly 15% of the total population.^[20] The city is recognised as being the first in the country to build council houses following World War I, typically sized between 80–100 square metres (860–1,080 sq ft), although had above national average figures for families living more than 2 people per room, at nearly 1-in-8 in 1921.^[21] Many people were not fortunate enough to reside in the new homes and by 1933, around 30,000 people still lived in condemned court and cellar dwellings.^[22]

Post war housing construction

Following World War II, the city saw many prefabricated houses built, intended to house people displaced after bombing destroyed many homes. Construction of prefabricated high-rise flats began during the mid 1950s, particularly as there was a shortage of land available for housing. The first tall high-rise was Logan Towers, built in 1966^[23] in Kirkdale and was the tallest of its kind in the world.^[24] The tower block was named after local MP David Logan and was supported by the Logan family, as it meant residents were able to remain close to where their homes had been demolished through slum clearance, as opposed to being resettled further out in areas such as Kirkby.^[25]

Economic decline

Following the slum clearances of the 1950s and 1960s, the succeeding two decades became a period of economic decline, as industries collapsed and public funding was cut. Unemployment in Liverpool was high and people left the city to find work, while remaining residents saw conditions in their housing estates decline through poor management and funding.^[22] In 1986, Member of Parliament for Liverpool Riverside Robert Parry asserted that Liverpool's housing expenditure declined in the late 20th century, suggesting every £1 spent in 1979 prior to the Conservatives winning the 1979 general election had fallen to 26p in the pound by 1985. The expenses claim was disputed by Sir George Young, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, who declared that government expenditure in Liverpool had risen to just over £1 billion, from £718 million since 1979, although accepted that Liverpool's housing problems were "among the worst in the country". In 1985, Liverpool bid for £132 million (equivalent to £411,475,113 in 2021) to help address its urgent housing problems, yet received just £31 million (equivalent to £96,634,307 in 2021).^[26] Liverpool suffered with a large number of vacant properties during the 1980s, with 2,178 houses, representing 3.35% of the total, being vacant in 1984.^[26] In 1987, Gerard Gardens was demolished.^[27]

An opportunity arose through the Housing Act 1988 which supported the possibility of establishing a Housing action trust for Liverpool that would receive funds directly for housing stock, rather than via the council. A ballot was held in each of the 71 tower blocks, requiring a majority decision to leave control of the council; 67 tower blocks and 83% of the total amount balloted voted to leave council control and in October 1993, the Liverpool Housing Action Trust was founded. A 1996 study concluded that the cost to refurbish the tower blocks would be around £300 million, a decision which was rejected following tenant consultation resulting in 54 blocks being demolished, while 13 were retained and refurbished.^[22]