Road Closed After Partial Collapse in Anfield, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• A partial building collapse occurred on Townsend Lane in Anfield, Liverpool, on 15 July 2026, shortly before 1:50 pm.
• The affected property contained Jovan’s Kitchen café on the ground floor and a residential flat above; both were evacuated.
• Two fire engines and a search and rescue team from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service attended, alongside Merseyside Police.
• All occupants were accounted for; no injuries were reported.
• The road remained closed between Lampeter Road and Canon Road as of 4:30 pm, with utility companies isolating gas and electricity.
• Liverpool City Council’s building control team began assessing the structure and determining next steps.
• A structural engineer and utility companies were requested to support the ongoing incident response.

Anfield (Liverpool Standard) July 15, 2026 – A building collapsed onto the road as the sun shone down on uk/local/anfield/">Anfield this afternoon, sending emergency services in large numbers to Townsend Lane following reports of a partial collapse shortly before 1:50 pm, Wednesday, 15 July.

Two fire engines and a search and rescue team attended, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said, along with Merseyside Police officers who set up a road block. Fire crews arrived to find the building, which was made up of Jovan’s Kitchen, a café, on the ground floor and a flat on the first floor, situated on the corner of Townsend Lane and Empress Road, had partially collapsed.

A hole, peering into the living room of the flat, remained as bricks filled the pavement below from where a wall had toppled. The café below suffered damage to its signs and will likely be closed until work can be done to make the building safe.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, emergency services confirmed that all people were accounted for by the time the site was cleared, although, as of 4:30 pm, the road remained closed between Lampeter Road and Canon Road.

What Emergency Measures Were Taken?

Cadent is believed to have isolated the gas before Scottish Power cut the electricity, with Liverpool City Council assessing the building to check it is safe.

One man, who works nearby, said:

“It just slowly started to come down and then it smashed against the pavement. It was crazy, I’ve never seen anything like that before. No one was in when it happened, thankfully.”

Before the ECHO left the scene, it was handed over to the council for assessment, with groups of people coming and going to look at the building wreckage.

A Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said:

“Crews were alerted at 1:48 pm and on scene at 1:55 pm, with two fire engines and the search and rescue team attending. On arrival this was a partial building collapse. The premises has been evacuated, and all persons have been accounted for. The property above, as well as neighbouring properties have also been evacuated. Merseyside Police are also in attendance to assist with traffic management, with road closures in place.”

“A structural engineer and utility companies have been requested. This is an ongoing incident, please avoid the area.”

A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said:

“We have been made aware of a partial building collapse in Anfield. Our building control team are attending the scene to inspect the extent of the damage to the building and identify any necessary next steps.”

Which Parts of the Building Were Affected?

Ground Floor Café and Upper Flat

The premises involved included Jovan’s Kitchen café on the ground floor, with a residential flat directly above. Both levels were evacuated after the partial collapse.

Damage was particularly visible where a wall had fallen, creating a large opening into the flat’s living room and scattering bricks onto the pavement below. The café’s external signage was damaged, meaning it would likely remain closed until safety work was completed.

Impact on Neighbouring Properties

As reported by a Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, the property above the café, as well as neighbouring properties, were also evacuated as a precaution. This indicates that the collapse had implications beyond the immediate building, raising concerns about structural stability in the surrounding area.

Who Responded to the Anfield Building Collapse?

Emergency Services Involved

The incident drew a multi-agency response:

• Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service deployed two fire engines and a search and rescue team.l
• Merseyside Police managed traffic and enforced road closures.
• Utility companies, including Cadent (gas) and Scottish Power (electricity), isolated supplies to reduce risk.
• Liverpool City Council’s building control team began an on-site assessment.

As noted by the Liverpool Echo, the site was eventually handed over to the council for detailed assessment once immediate safety measures were in place.

Local Witnesses and Community Reaction

One worker nearby described the collapse as “crazy” and said he had “never seen anything like that before,” noting that no one was inside at the time. Social media and local news footage showed groups of people gathering to view the wreckage after the road was secured, reflecting significant community interest in the incident.

What Are the Next Steps After the Collapse?

Safety Assessments and Structural Checks

Liverpool City Council confirmed that its building control team was attending the scene to inspect the extent of the damage and identify necessary next steps. A structural engineer was requested to determine whether the building could be stabilised, required partial demolition, or needed full reconstruction.

Utility companies had already isolated gas and electricity, reducing the risk of secondary incidents while engineers and inspectors worked on the site.

Potential Closure of Jovan’s Kitchen

Given the damage to the café’s signage and structural integrity of the building, Jovan’s Kitchen is expected to remain closed until repairs and safety certifications are completed. The exact duration of the closure will depend on the outcome of the structural assessment and any subsequent remediation work ordered by the council.

Background of the Townsend Lane Building Collapse Development

The collapse occurred on Townsend Lane in Anfield, a residential and commercial area on the corner of Townsend Lane and Empress Road. The building housed a mixed-use premises: a café (Jovan’s Kitchen) on the ground floor and a residential flat above.

This incident follows a pattern of occasional structural failures in older urban buildings in Liverpool, where changes in use, age, and possible unapproved alterations can compromise stability. While no official cause has been confirmed at this stage, the eyewitness description that the building “slowly started to come down” before smashing onto the pavement suggests a gradual structural failure rather than a sudden external impact.

The event has drawn significant local attention, with emergency services issuing safety warnings and advising the public to avoid the area while assessments continue.

How Could This Building Collapse Affect Local Residents and Businesses?

Disruption to Traffic and Daily Commutes

The road closure between Lampeter Road and Canon Road is likely to cause delays for drivers and pedestrians using Townsend Lane as a local route. Residents relying on this road for access to workplaces, schools, or transport links may face longer travel times and need to use alternative routes.

Merseyside Police’s traffic management measures mean that some journeys through Anfield could be blocked or heavily restricted until the council and engineers determine when the road can safely reopen.

Impact on Jovan’s Kitchen and Nearby Enterprises

The damage to Jovan’s Kitchen means the café will be closed until safety work is completed, directly affecting:

• Staff who may face temporary loss of income or reduced working hours.
• Customers who regularly use the café for food and drinks.
• Nearby businesses that may have benefited from foot traffic generated by the café.

The length of the closure will depend on structural assessments and any required repairs, which could extend over weeks or months if major work is needed.

Concerns About Building Safety in the Area

The evacuation of the flat above and neighbouring properties suggests that residents in the immediate vicinity could face short-term displacement or at least heightened anxiety about the safety of their homes. If the structural engineer identifies broader issues linked to construction quality, age, or alterations, there could be wider scrutiny of similar buildings in Anfield.

This could lead to:

• Additional inspections of nearby properties.
• Potential temporary evacuations if further risks are identified.
• Increased demand for advice from local authorities on building safety.

For local residents and business owners, the collapse underscores the importance of maintaining building integrity and being aware of signs of structural weakness, such as cracks, sagging, or unusual vibrations.