Welsh Streets & Four Streets of Granby, Toxteth.

I took these photographs on behalf of the Northern Alliance Housing Co-operative after gaining an understanding of what they stand for. In a nutshell, their fundamental aim is to acquire abandoned properties within the 'Regeneration Zones' of the Welsh Streets and 'Four streets' of Granby, Toxteth, Liverpool. Sadly there's an awful lot of disused and run-down terraced houses in and around the industrial cities of the North that are being demolished for the sole purposes for schemes such as 'urban renewal' and 'regeneration'. However, such is the case that a lot of these properties are, in fact, structurally sound and situated in areas where the importance of community is next to none. So much so, that these residents are desperately trying to keep their communities together despite the increasing pressure from developers and the council and so they refuse to accept any plans that will contain widespread demolition, consequently resulting in a stalemate.

The upshot of the situation now, is that hundreds of houses are standing empty and being left to decay while thousands of people are still waiting on housing lists. And this is where the Co-op have become involved. The main intention of acquiring these properties is to house individuals and families and help the residents/members gain control over and manage their housing needs. And one of the most important factors is that all the houses are to be renovated in a manner that they will be as carbon neutral and ecologically sustainable as is achievable.

"We hope that the Coop acts as a model for others within the city of Liverpool and beyond, as an example of community regeneration and ecological renovation of the highest standard. We

aim to acquire the properties and start the renovation by June 2010."

( Objectives of the Northern Alliance Housing Co-operative)

Through my photographs I wanted to document the houses in their current state in order to illustrate the council's blight upon a community. But, although the properties I've documented

show decay, I also see charm and fascination with who and what these houses once beheld.