This film is part of Free

Community Builder

Attempting to build communities while saving (millions of) pennies in Yorkshire leads to anonymous factory-line homes in 51 shades of grey.

Documentary 1968 18 mins

Overview

Beware the aspirational town planner with an unproven industrialised building system at their disposal. The problem of inadequate terraces with antiquated facilities is clear. The solution - colourless Lego-like modular flats with an emphasis on economies of scale - is far less so. Within 20 years of increasingly uncomfortable dwelling the majority of these schemes were demolished.

The building schemes featured are identified as Balloon Wood in Nottingham; Anchor Street in Leeds; Bransholme in Kingston Upon Hull; and Broomhall in Sheffield.