Rebirth of Liverpool

This book is the story of one of the most extraordinary communities in the UK: The Eldonians from Liverpool. In 1978, facing demolition of their neighbourhood and the destruction of their community, they and their professional advisors created an alternative strategy for the regeneration of their neighbourhood. The book covers the early history of the Eldonians' ancestors who were mainly poor Irish people fleeing the Potato Famine in the middle of the 19th century, the role and influence of their local Catholic Church and the development of social housing in Liverpool. It then follows the journey of the Eldonians from 1976 when they first resisted plans by the Church to re-organise their parishes, through their struggle against Liverpool City Council's plans to demolish their tenements and disperse the community, to their creation and development up to the present day of the Eldonian Village. The Village is a sustainable community that has won major awards for regeneration over the last 25 years, including the prestigious World Habitat Award in 2004. The story is told through the words of the key people in this remarkable journey. We hear most particularly, from local people, including their inspiration and leader, Tony McGann; from Lords Michael Heseltine and Patrick Jenkin; and, from the professionals who contributed to the making of their story. Despite their many achievements, the Eldonians are not finished, as Tony McGann tells us, 'We have only just taken our coats off here!'. 'The Eldonian Village has been 30 years in the making. In 1977 this neighbourhood faced demolition through a slum clearance programme and the community was to be broken up. They decided to remain together and to create a new neighbourhood that is today a model of a sustainable community and one that everyone in the country should be aware of' - Rt Hon Gordon Brown, Prime Minister.