the big london investors had moved in too , buying up large properties to make into flats and offices , knocking down many of the buildings which had previously characterised the town , painting a new picture of visual reality and influencing the aspirations of the people , pushing the prices up and driving a big fat wedge between the classes whilst simultaneously developing the city-cloned shopping experience for the consumer another example of the corporate/capitalists holy trinity the corporations sitting on the throne , the banks , politicians/media doing their work to keep the money flowing dextrally and the commons working and striving to acquire the shiny things placed in front of them and to get on the property ladder .