“Some of the tenants – particularly the families, are far from happy with the facilities that they get for their money.”

Nationwide’s Brian Ash reports from the Barbican Estate, the Corporation of London’s gargantuan new brutalist residential complex. It isn’t cheap to live here – even a single bedroom flat costs 15 pounds a week – and if money is no object, a luxury penthouse flat can cost over 85 pounds a week. Despite the premium price tag, residents in the Barbican are frustrated by the lack of basic amenities on the 35 acre site. There is no launderette, no facilities for children – no playgroups, no play area, and only a modestly sized shop to cater for the whole area.

The Barbican, in fact, has far fewer facilities than the neighbouring council estate – Golden Lane – which has a laundrette, a badminton court, tennis courts, clubs for pensioners and kids, a nursery school, several shops and an indoor swimming pool.

Brian Ash speaks to the Housing Manager to see if any of the tenant’s concerns are likely to be addressed in future.

Clip taken from Nationwide, originally broadcast on BBC One, 11 December, 1972.