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Documentary The Tower painted a poignant picture of regeneration during its eight-week run on BBC1.

The programme charted the transformation of the rundown Pepys Estate in south London as developer Berkeley Homes turned a dilapidated local authority tower into a luxury-riverside apartment block. But the programme was a

long way from the glossy sales brochures beloved of developers as the stories of those displaced by the changes were documented over a three-year period.

The sad experiences of local residents sat uncomfortably alongside the relentlessly positive spin of the estate agents and the incoming professionals who could afford at least £250,000 for a flat. Meanwhile, residents were relocated from the tower where many had continued to cling on to a sense of community despite surviving in almost Dickensian conditions.

The experiences of people such as heroin addict Leol and his alcoholic friend Nicky (pictured) highlighted how one person’s regeneration scheme is another’s destruction of the only home they know.

Equally disturbing was the blind hope of Doug, landlord of local pub the John Evelyn, who hoped a new breed of wealthier punters would be attracted to his run-down boozer, which had acquired the unfortunate nickname of ‘God’s waiting room’. Regeneration? It sounds more like social cleansing.

... in words

Nobody wants to be discussing the industry’s failure to protect workers when we’re celebrating the Olympic stadium. Peter Hain, Work and Pensions Secretary.

Keep an eye on Laing O’Rourke. We’ll surprise the hell out of everyone. Tony Douglas, O’Rourke’s new chief operating officer.

We’d like to see more entry into housebuilding and development. If we can learn from other parts of Europe where they are further ahead on environmental standards, it will be good for housing in this country. Housing minister Yvette Cooper invites foreign competition.

... in numbers

9The number of months it has taken for the Olympic Delivery Authority and the construction unions to draw up an industrial relations deal for the London 2012 Games. Both sides have been in negotiation during this period over the level of direct employment that should be used on the job.

20The percentage price hike that cement producers are planning to inflict on the industry by the end of this year. The increase would lead to a rise in the price of bulk cement of £15 a tonne.

77The number of people killed on construction sites between March 2006 and 2007. The figure is the highest since 2001-02 when there were 80 deaths.

114The number of workers sacked by Laing O’Rourke for failing drug tests during the 12 months to March this year. The figure is down on the previous year when positive tests led to 165 workers being kicked-off site.

120The number of staff that rapidly expanding contractor Rok is hiring every month. The recruitment drive has meant the firm’s staff numbers have more than doubled during the past year to 4,200 and the company plans to hit 10,000 within four years.

780mThe amount, in pounds, that social housing specialist Keepmoat cost in a management buyout completed last month.

10bnThe amount, in pounds, earmarked for the complete transformation of Birmingham city centre. Designer Urban Initiatives has been charged with coming up with the City Centre Masterplan for the massive regeneration scheme.