Demolition crews have started to tear down the historic Albert Row near the entrance to Dockyard.

The row of terraced houses on Malabar Road, Ireland Island, Sandys, housed tradesmen when the Dockyard was a major industrial complex that supported Royal Navy operations in the region.

The terrace was built in the 1840s and was Grade 2-listed in 2000 for “special interest and architectural and historical value”.

But the last residents moved out in 2014 and the buildings deteriorated.

Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, removed the terraced row from the list of protected buildings last September after years of debate about its future.

Andrew Dias, the general manager of the West End Development Company, estimated that it would have cost the quango about $10 million to restore the buildings.

He added that no one else was prepared to take on renovation of the houses.

It is expected that demolition will be completed and the area grassed over by the end of the month.