Northern Eye 12 - Thomond on Thursday with his choice of Guardian pictures from England's better half

Park Hill flats line a ridge overlooking the centre of Sheffield, vast blocks inspired by Le Corbusier which replaced the slums of 'Little Chicago' in a programme which started with designs by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith in 1945 and was completed in 1961
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

The 'streets in the sky' attracted international attention and many visitors, with Sheffield city council publishing guides in various languages including Russian. But structural problems and inadequate facilities reduced their popularity to the stage where they were turning into slums of their own
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

The neighbouring Hyde Park flats were used to house athletes for the World Student Games in 1991 but Park Hill remained a headache until 1998 when Grade II* listing by English Heritage made it the largest historic building in Europe. Sheffield's hopes of marketing it in partnership with private developers were realised through the involvement of the Manchester firm Urban Splash
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Regeneration has concentrated so far on two of the complex's five blocks, re-using the red, orange and yellow colour scheme of the original building's brick curtain walls.
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

The names of the 'sky streets' have also been preserved, along with a poignant piece of old graffiti reading 'Clare Middleton, I love you, will u marry me?' which refers to a tenant who died of cancer before a wedding could take place.
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Now the flats are for sale or to rent, taking advantage of their closeness to the city centre and Sheffield's train and tram network
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

They have lovely views, including of the said tram, and the hills of Yorkshire and the Derbyshire Peak away in the distance
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Closer to hand are reminders of the old Sheffield and the lines of back-to-back terrace houses which have returned to popularity in many northern cities as starter homes for first-time buyers
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

If you're tired of the view, you can always pull down the blinds.
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Or screw up your eyes or take your spectacles off Photograph: Guardian

Sideways, the view is of the unrestored blocks, showing the contrast. Their turn will probably follow in due course and when the economy looks up.
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Softer than brutalism, the original design nonetheless failed to recreate the chumminess of terraced streets as its designers had hoped. Park Hill has partisans in Sheffield, but others feel vociferously that it should have been pulled down
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

The flats are selling, including those whose view to the rear is of works in progress rather than the spectacular landscape at the front.
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

Elephantine still, for all that they have been lightened-up and smartened inside and out, the flats are hard to escape
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

You can find out more about sizes, prices (such as £95,000 for a one-bedroom flat) and rents (for example £700 pcm for a two-bedroom flat) via Urban Splash's website and Park Hill gallery here
Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian