ABSTRACT

During the first half of the 1980s, one problem followed another on some of the large industrialised estates which were built during the 1960s and 1970s. The physical problems were apparent to everybody: leaking roofs, crumbling concrete, rotting window and door frames, cold and damp walls. The effect was aggravated by worn-out recreation areas, often vandalised, with snapped-off trees, dilapidated playgrounds and broken play equipment. While both tenants and their visitors were depressed by the sight of the buildings and their surroundings, the resources available for general maintenance were insufficient to make any lasting improvements.