These views across Birmingham epitomise certain profound changes which have occurred to the landscape of many of our larger urban centres over the last 50 or 60 years — the building of high-rise tower blocks and the development of motorways.
In the 1950s and 1960s town planners saw high-rise flats or tower blocks as an answer to some of their urban and housing problems. This was one of the responses to the great housing shortage after the Second World War. Following years of damage by bombing and the lack of ability to repair even those houses that had not been damaged, town councils were looking for a way to rehouse people quickly and cheaply. They were also keen to limit urban sprawl and reduce travelling time to work by housing people near to city centres. Large areas of slum housing were cleared away and tower blocks built.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
