‘The book is alive with the furious emotion that Tolmers Square did – and still does – inspire in everyone involved… a fascinating tale.’ - Liz Forgan, Times Educational Supplement, 15 October 1976
‘…a rare report from the frontier of urban change’ - Simon Jenkins, Times Literary Supplement, 12 November 1976
‘A story of great importance precisely because in its essentials it could be repeated for scores of other inner city areas.... An essential piece of reading for all those trying to change the features of incredible waste and gross inhumanity characterising so many of our inner-city areas.’ - Ann Holmes, Labour Weekly, 19 November 1976
‘An impassioned account...laid out in an ingenious format which owes something to documentary film....The language of thrillers applies to it: it was, indeed, hard to put down.’ - Richard North, The Listener, 25 November 1976
‘…a thorough, very readable, well-documented case study… about planning which actually looks interesting as well.’ - Richard Adam, Planning, 17 December 1976
‘The great strength of the book is the remorseless detail of its account of the developer's tactics, of the fitful politics of the residents resistance, and of what it is like to be on the receiving end of major redevelopment... An excellent source book.’ - Michael Edwards, Architectural Design, January 1977
‘…a period classic.’ - Reyner Banham, New Society, June 1980