style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">The centres of Britain’s former industrial cities have changed beyond recognition. London, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool are now filled with waterside luxury apartments. We have had a torrent of lottery-funded and hugely variable arts buildings. We are also paying for a wave of PFI (private finance initiative) schools and hospitals, which are among the ugliest, meanest buildings ever built in Britain.