A CALL is being made for the creation of a team of architectural watchdogs to stop Liverpool looking “like Benidorm”.
Lib Dem leader Richard Kemp is urging the city council to establish an Architectural Standards Commission to review planning applications of all new developments. Its aim would be to drive up the quality of buildings being developed,
It follows criticism of some of the buildings emerging on the Liverpool skyline.
Too much of what is being proposed and built in the city is poor quality design which smashes the proud architectural heritage of our city
Cllr Kemp said, “Our city must not be allowed to become a boring, bland Benidorm. It must continue to be a place where that ‘WOW’ factor, of a blend of new and old buildings, is a vital part of our competitive offer for tourism, investment and the enjoyment of local people.”
Cllr Kemp added: “Too much of what is being proposed and built in the city is poor quality design which smashes the proud architectural heritage of our city.
“If we are to enhance our role as a major European city which is unique and worth visiting we need to ensure that anything we build is of high quality, does not damage our existing high quality architectural heritage and which creates high quality new buildings which complement not detract from the existing buildings. We want people to come into our City and know that they are somewhere special.”
He said many of Liverpool’s new builds could be anywhere in the world, “missing the ‘wow factor’ which is typical of the buildings of 150 to 100 years ago”
“If you look at buildings like the Grand Central student village, which is one of the first buildings that visitors coming to the city by train see, your vision is one of Stalinist architecture which is already showing itself as dirty as well as ugly. Our World Heritage Site which is an important part of economic and tourist revival is at risk unless the council recognises its importance.”
Grand Central student village: 'Stalinist architecture which is already showing itself as dirty as well as ugly'In his proposal, due to go before the city council next week, Cllr Kemp says the current wave of applications which are coming forward, as exemplified by the buildings being created at or near the Futurist site, are buildings which do not build on the rich architectural heritage of the city and indeed in some locations threaten our existing heritage.
“The aim of the city council should be to create a unique cityscape which future generations will wish to cherish as the developers of the city in late 19th and early 20th century did. This concept of high quality uniqueness should cover not only the city centre and commercial and tourist areas but our residential areas as well.
Our city must not be allowed to become a boring, bland Benidorm, says Richard Kemp He says he wants the council to learn from the 1960s when a dash for growth produced many buildings such as Concourse House at Lime Street and the spine blocks of Netherley, which were loathed from the minute they were built,and needed demolishing well before the end of their interned life span.
A commission, he says, could examine the design standards of buildings being brought before the planning committee. It could also advise on schemes adjacent to heritage buildings and help preserve Liverpool’s World Heritage Status.
RIBA, the Merseyside Civic Society and the architectural and planning departments of the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University could work with the council on this commission “to lead a crusade of building design to ensure Liverpool's place as a heritage city to visit for decades to come,” says Cllr Kemp.
