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Brickyard Cottages are a group of semi-derelict houses located near to the M1 motorway on the site of the former Watnall brick works in Nottinghamshire. Broxtowe Borough Council uses the properties to house families who have fallen into rent arrears. They continue to do so against the advice of Shelter and social services because they believe that the poor quality of the housing acts as a deterrent to 'difficult' council tenants. We see views of the houses (many of which are boarded up) with the chimneys of the former brickworks in the background and the M1 in the foreground. There are interviews with tenants who talk about the poor conditions, damp, cold and complete lack of facilities. Access to the houses is down an unlit and unmade road causing further problems. There are industrial debris left behind and the residents are fearful that their children will be injured playing in the dereliction. Text from a council report is read out giving background to the project and we also hear from Simon Alvey of Shelter about the problems faced by the people who live in the houses. Alvey is seen walking along the unmade road and we also see a resident digging for waste coal to provide heating and a man who lives there as a single parent with two young children.
Made by Nottingham Video Project with the people of Brickyard Cottages.