Flats at Sish Lane, Stevenage, Hertfordshire: detail of the lift tower of a seven-storey block showing window cleaners' balconies and soldier brick panels

NOTES: Stevenage was designated as England's first New Town in 1946, followed by the other London orbital developments of Basildon, Harlow, Hemel Hempstead and Bracknell. The development of the New Towns, built after World War II to ease overcrowding in London, was overseen by Lewis Silkin, 1st Baron Silkin (1888-1972), the Minister for Town and Country Planning from 1945 to 1950.