'Unlimited Opportunity or Unavoidable Decay?' (Tower Hamlets Council video, 1987)

This video about funds for housing renovation was part of Tower Hamlets Council's campaign to seek an extra £120 million from central government to deal with the housing crisis in the borough, The video lays out how the money is necessary for building and renovating homes in Tower Hamlets and shows many of the borough's run down council estates. The hymn 'Jerusalem' with its line about a 'Green and Pleasant Land' is counterpointed with scenes of urban degradation. Galleon House estate is shown as an example of dilapidation in council housing stock, with residents of a flat in the block showing problems with damp, rot and general decay. Spitalfields and Shadwell are singled out as areas where private housing is in a particularly bad shape, but the Parfett street Action Area in Stepney is cited as an example of what can be achieved when funds are forthcoming. Film of the Parfett Street renovation shows how demolition was avoided and housing retained for the local Bangladeshi population. The problem of temporary accommodation in hotels for the homeless is illustrated with statistics showing the costs of hotels versus building new council homes. Sheltered accommodation at Ruth Court in Bow is shown as an example of the type of warden assisted housing for the elderly which is in short supply in the area. St John's Estate on the Isle of Dogs is presented as an opportunity for developing new family homes. The potential for working with private developers is indicated in reference to a joint renovation scheme on the Montieff Estate in Bow.
Credits: Director, Theresa Daly; voice over, Jerry Lindsay.
Copyright: Tower Hamlets Public Relations Department.
Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives reference number: LC15070

[@medfitconsultant]

The whole area is completely changed now. I grew up in Tower hamlets, Stepney Green precisely, yet my recent visit to the area seems unrecognisable. Its new world entirely.

[@noeonoohno4219]

I appreciate that the tower hamlets council takes care to not displace minorities from the communities they lived in. but now it feels the tories wouldn't fund the council, they would want to punish Tower hamlets for voting Labour.

[@urwashahid9210]

Why does this video look like it from the 60's

[@grantparker2757]

Was brought up in swapping. And had a grate time we had a lot to do the tower of London 2 parks shops

[@saulberg5247]

SHOULD HAVE NEVER KNOCKED DOWN ST VINCENT ESTATE ..........

[@syamin72]

At 9:22 you see tarling estate in its original form. They should have refurbished those two blocks rather than demolish & rebuild

[@noeonoohno4219]

Did tower hamlets get the money?

[@deeppurple883]

Tower block's were the worst buildings ever conceived of and built on this planet in this century. They are Hell on earth even today. They changed the name from Towers to Apartments. A dog by any other name, is still a dog. 🌈

[@jboardy5439]

💯

[@janetcozens4623]

Ooops It

[@janetcozens4623]

We where told that our maisonettes should of been down at least 10 years before Harcca I was Brought in it Killed all the community spirt that was there before Poplar and Bow. T'hats what killed the East End Bloody Harrca