In his article “Spare these London flats the wrecking ball. But no more eyesore tower blocks please,” Simon Jenkins draws attention to the potential drawbacks of tower blocks and suggests that Victorian terrace housing would be a better solution for high-density living. While it is indeed possible to construct well-designed terraced estates like Goldsmith Street in Norwich, it’s important to note that planning regulations had to be temporarily suspended to accommodate the required 100 dwellings.
Constructing these dense terraces on a large scale would be necessary to provide an alternative to apartment blocks. However, this approach would give rise to significant issues such as access, service provision, and the availability of adequate green space.
It’s worth mentioning that high-rise council towers, often seen as everyone’s favorite villain, were rarely built in isolation. They were part of mixed developments consisting of high- and middle-rise apartments alongside terraced housing. While it’s true that many of these estates have not stood the test of time, the reasons for their failure are complex.
Contrary to popular belief, not all council tenants despise living in high-rise apartments. Many residents appreciate the spaciousness, well-designed layout, and quality of the remaining blocks. It’s unfortunate that the architects responsible for such housing are often overlooked and undervalued.
Examples like Berthold Lubetkin’s Spa Green estate in Islington, and Cranbrook estate in Bethnal Green, London, still offer a high quality of living. Even Ernő Goldfinger’s Trellick and Balfron towers are experiencing a renaissance after years of neglect. Living in well-designed and properly maintained tower blocks, as evidenced by the residents of the Barbican estate in the City of London, can be a positive experience.
Nicholas Russell
Author of Lubetkin and Goldfinger: The Rise and Fall of British High‑Rise Council Housing
