We are building the slums of the tomorrow

"There is also something seriously wrong when new houses across the country form rootless estates and could just as well be in Beijing, Buenos Aires or Belfast. These are developments which have no regard for a community's sense of place, belonging or identity. I fear we are building the slums of the tomorrow but it shouldn't be. Britain has some of the best architects in the world."

Sir Richard Rogers, Architect & Head of the Government's Urban Task Force, a commission of architects, planners and engineers which produced a blueprint for inner-city renewal that focused on design-led buildings and reform of the planning system to allow greater involvement of residents.
The Independent 29 March 2008



Hackney Council and Greater London Authority's plans for Dalston - now under construction

"Save our past. Save our future.
The developers will not be building the new Jerusalem in Dalston but towerblock flats for sale which will overshadow and blight the area. They may be seen as a buy-to-let opportunity to house a transient population and become the slums of the future. We will see our children living at height with nothing for them except a tiny dark playground at the bottom of the canyon between the skyscrapers. It is a hypocritical betrayal of Dalston’s community, and of hard won Council policies, to condemn future generations to this and wipe out our childrens’ and grandchildren’s heritage into the bargain. We do not want to live in the past, but we do want to live with it."
www.OPENdalston.net 26 July 2006