Knowsley Council is supporting residents of Beech and Willow Rise in Kirkby after it was confirmed that there is no prospect of repairs being completed by the buildings’ owners on the buildings in the short to medium term.
These two privately owned buildings are in an extremely poor condition, and due to serious fire safety concerns, both currently require a 24/7 ‘waking watch’ in order to keep residents safe.
The buildings’ management company informed residents early in May 2025 that they did not have the funds to carry out essential repairs and maintenance to the buildings, or to continue the waking watch they had been providing. They stopped funding the waking watch from 21 May 2025.
As the withdrawal of the waking watch would have meant that the buildings would have been declared legally unsafe to inhabit, the council agreed to take over the waking watch in order to prevent 160 households being made immediately homeless.
But the council has been clear that this was only ever a temporary measure, as it does not address the underlying safety issues at the buildings, and has been advising residents to make plans in the event that they need to move out of the buildings within weeks, not months.
Since May, the council has been supporting residents, lobbying Government on their behalf, and meeting with the various parties involved in the complex management and ownership of the buildings.
One such party, an agent for the head lessor, has begun investigating the possibility of carrying out remedial repairs. But this week, they confirmed to the council that it would take some time to establish if this was feasible, and even if it were, any works would likely require the building to be vacated for a prolonged period of time – meaning residents would need to move out of the buildings in order for this to be progressed.
They also confirmed that they do not intend to continue the waking watch once the council’s waking watch comes to an end.
In view of this information, given the lack of clarity over whether repairs will be carried out or any timescales, the council is unable to continue with the waking watch indefinitely but it has agreed to continue with it for a further short period of time to give residents more time to find alternative accommodation.
Residents have now been informed that the council’s waking watch will remain in place until 12pm midday on Monday, 21 July 2025. After that, the council expects that Merseyside Fire and Rescue (MFRS) will issue a prohibition notice against the building, meaning all residents must leave on or before this day.
Residents at risk of homelessness are being supported by the council, with several of the most vulnerable residents already been rehoused. The council is now urging any residents who have not yet contacted them but are at risk of homelessness after 21 July to make contact with them as soon as possible. They can contact:
Knowsley Housing Solutions – for anyone at risk of homelessness
W: Visit www.knowsley.gov.uk and search ‘housing solutions’
T: 0151 443 2333
E: housingsolutions@knowsley.gov.uk (Please include Beech or Willow Rise in the subject line to allow us to answer your email more quickly)
Property Pool Plus
W: https://www.propertypoolplus.org.uk/
T: 0151 443 2220
E: knowsley.propertypoolplus@knowsley.gov.uk (Please include Beech or Willow Rise in the subject line to allow us to answer your email more quickly)
Alternatively, you can use the online chat option on the Council’s website.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, said: “This is an awful situation for these residents of Beech and Willow Rise, who’ve had to endure the unacceptable state of these buildings, and concerns about their fire safety, for far too long already.
“These buildings are privately owned and managed, and the complexity of all the private sector parties involved has undoubtedly not helped.
“From a Knowsley Council perspective, our concern is with the residents whose lives have been thrown into turmoil due to the failure of all concerned to keep these buildings up to a safe standard. We stepped in to provide the waking watch when the buildings’ managers were no longer able to, in order to prevent 160 households being made homeless overnight in May. However, we have been clear that the council cannot cover the cost of the waking watch indefinitely.
“We know that many residents have already moved out of the buildings, or are making plans to do so, and we’ve now confirmed with those who remain that we are now extending the waking watch until Monday, 21 July 2025.
“I would urge anyone who still hasn’t spoken to us for support in their specific circumstances to do so immediately.”
Advice and information for residents is available on the council’s website at https://www.knowsley.gov.uk/beech-and-willow-rise-kirkby.
The council will also be hosting four more Community Surgery events for anyone who was unable to attend the previous sessions, or who now needs additional support in order to meet the 21 July deadline for moving out. Council officers will be at Centre 63, Old Hall Lane, Kirkby, L32 5TH on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday 1 July: 1-5pm
- Saturday 5 July: 9am -1pm
- Thursday 10 July: 4-8pm
- Wednesday 16 July: 9am- 1pm
Officers will be able to help residents complete applications for homelessness support or with registering for Property Pool Plus if they have not already been able to do so. Please phone 0151 443 2333 from 9am until 4.45pm, Monday to Friday, to book an appointment.