After closing as a library in 1999, this building has undergone significant decline and decay over the last 20 years and features in the Victorian Society’s list of most endangered buildings in Britain. It is often noted by LiverpoolWorld readers as one of the city’s ‘neglected’ buildings they would like to see restored. At the end of 2025, Liverpool City Council announced it has now allocated £250,000 for remedial and improvement works, to ensure the building can return to use as a cultural and community asset. The local authority says the funding will make the building “as weatherproof and as environmentally clean as possible”, and support the completion of a specialist condition survey - a detailed, conservation‑focused inspection and report that will record the building’s fabric, defects, and causes of decay, and then set out repair priorities. Great news!placeholder image
After closing as a library in 1999, this building has undergone significant decline and decay over the last 20 years and features in the Victorian Society’s list of most endangered buildings in Britain. It is often noted by LiverpoolWorld readers as one of the city’s ‘neglected’ buildings they would like to see restored. At the end of 2025, Liverpool City Council announced it has now allocated £250,000 for remedial and improvement works, to ensure the building can return to use as a cultural and community asset. The local authority says the funding will make the building “as weatherproof and as environmentally clean as possible”, and support the completion of a specialist condition survey - a detailed, conservation‑focused inspection and report that will record the building’s fabric, defects, and causes of decay, and then set out repair priorities. Great news! | Rodhullandemu - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

11 Liverpool eyesores and derelict buildings I would love to see restored in 2026

Emma Dukes
By Emma Dukes

Digital Journalist

Published 3rd Jan 2026, 15:55 GMT

Explore the derelict buildings of Liverpool that I would love to see restored in 2026.

2026 is here and I have been thinking about the changes I would love to see in Liverpool in 2025, including tackling the derelict buildings blighting our beautiful city.

Despite large sums of money being invested into the regeneration of Liverpool and the surrounding city region, many run-down buildings have been earmarked for restoration which has failed to materialise, others have seen planning applications fall through and some have even been devastated by fires.

Many important buildings - such as former churches and historic halls - have been granted Listed status, which protects them from being demolished or altered, but sadly does not ensure they are properly maintained. As a result, many have become overrun with rot and, in some cases, are in a complete state of ruin.

From abandoned pubs to once magnificent buildings, these are some of the eyesores I would love to see restored over the next 12 months. Let me know which buildings you would like to see tackled by leaving a comment below.

The former Merseyside Centre for the Deaf on Princes Avenue is a Grade II-listed building, named by the Victorian Society as a heritage building at risk of disrepair in 2018. The abandoned building has been left to erode and rot.

5. Merseyside Centre for the Deaf, Princes Avenue

The former Merseyside Centre for the Deaf on Princes Avenue is a Grade II-listed building, named by the Victorian Society as a heritage building at risk of disrepair in 2018. The abandoned building has been left to erode and rot. | Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

This Grade II* structure was built as a private assembly room for the Wellington Club in 1815. Later used as an Irish Club. Severe dry rot continues to be monitored. The local authority set up a steering group, which commissioned a condition survey and feasibility study to identify an end use. A Historic England grant-aided project has addressed the most urgent repairs, but a long term re-use scheme continues to be elusive.

6. Wellington Rooms, Liverpool

This Grade II* structure was built as a private assembly room for the Wellington Club in 1815. Later used as an Irish Club. Severe dry rot continues to be monitored. The local authority set up a steering group, which commissioned a condition survey and feasibility study to identify an end use. A Historic England grant-aided project has addressed the most urgent repairs, but a long term re-use scheme continues to be elusive. | Google Maps

St Bride's Church, Percy Street, was built in 1829-30 in the Greek Revival style to the designs of Samuel Rowland. According to Historic England, the building is "declining". The church has Grade II* listed status and is truly stunning but whenever I walk past I think about how lovely it would look after some TLC.

7. St Bride's Church, Percy Street

St Bride's Church, Percy Street, was built in 1829-30 in the Greek Revival style to the designs of Samuel Rowland. According to Historic England, the building is "declining". The church has Grade II* listed status and is truly stunning but whenever I walk past I think about how lovely it would look after some TLC. | Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Royal, on Bankhall Road/Stanley Road is one of many Stanley Road pubs to sadly close, and it is missed by locals. It is truly a beautiful building but is vacant and run down.

8. The Royal, Bankhall/Stanley Road

The Royal, on Bankhall Road/Stanley Road is one of many Stanley Road pubs to sadly close, and it is missed by locals. It is truly a beautiful building but is vacant and run down. | Google Street View

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