Barbara Adams OBE dies aged 89

Adams served as head of the Sociological Research Branch at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government from 1960, after it had been set up to design and build demonstration housing projects with local authorities.

During the Second World War she had taken part in the Mass Observation project, before moving on the Ministry of Housing where she first served as a planning officer.

According to The Guardian, one of the many researchers who were influenced by her was film producer Tony Garnett, who said that his 1966 TV play Cathy Come Home was “inspired” by his time working with Adams.