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More definite evidence of improvement is forthcoming from the figures illustrating the relative
incidence of excessive room densities. From the following table it will be seen that a considerable
reduction has been effected in both the numbers and proportions scheduled in the '* overcrowded* 'r
category of two persons per room.
1921. 1931,
Kensington private families with density of more than two persons per room 4,403 3,463
Percentage to total private families 10-2 7-2
(Ditto—County of London) 9-9 7-5
Kensington population in such families 26,456 19,985
Percentage to total private family population16-7 12-6
(Ditto—County of London) 6-1 13-1
The above table shows that the percentages in Kensington are more satisfactory than those
for London as a whole, whereas the reverse was the case ten years ago. It is unfortunate that the
figures for North and South Kensington cannot be given separately, for the combination of the more
ample room accommodation in South Kensington with the more restricted accommodation in
North Kensington gives a figure which does not correctly represent the two areas separately.
Nevertheless, it is an outstanding fact that the number of " overcrowded" families in
Kensington has, in the space of ten years, been reduced by 940, and the population therein by 6,471.
HOUSES OWNED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY.
The council are the owners of 120 houses and flats which they built prior to the War in
Kenley Street, Hesketh Place and Runcorn Place abutting on Avondale Park.
They also possess 387 flats and 54 cottages which have been built or acquired since the War
at an approximate cost of £343,852.
No new accommodation was provided during the year 1932 ; but a block of 20 flats in Lancaster
Road was commenced in the latter part of the year and completed early in 1933.
During 1932, the council resolved to appoint a whole-time woman house property-manager.
ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED BY HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS.
The property owned by the several voluntary housing associations operating within the borough
is shown below.
A. The Kensington Housing Trust own 24 freehold houses, 80 freehold flats and 51 leasehold
houses. No new accommodation was provided by the Trust during the year 1932.
B. The Wilsham Housing Trust own 133 single family houses, 50 self-contained flats and 52
houses let in lodgings.
C. The Improved Tenements Association acquired during the year the freeholds of twelve
houses and the leaseholds of two. At the end of the year they held 146 freehold houses, 56
leasehold houses and 32 freehold ground rents.
D. Several smaller housing associations, closely associated in management with the Wilsham
Trust, owned at the end of the year 38 houses and 9 flats.
E. In the year 1929 the Sutton Trustees acquired a large building plot of about eight acres
in Dalgarno Gardens and built 540 flats.
F. During the year the council acquired the last remaining building site of any size in the
borough. It measures approximately 9£ acres and adjoins the Sutton Trust Estate.
The Peabody Donation Trust have taken over on a long lease at a nominal rent about 5 acres
and propose to build several hundreds of flats. The Sutton Trust have purchased one acre so as
to provide further working-class accommodation. The Kensington Housing Trust are hoping to
build working-class flats on one acre, and the remainder of the site will be used as a recreation
ground and for the erection of a community centre.
The new dwellings to be erected on this site will provide considerable accommodation for those
families now living under unsatisfactory conditions in other parts of the borough.
• The ratio of two or more persons per room has been utilised as a comparative index figure for the purposes of measuring
the prevalence and distribution of overcrowded conditions. The use of this ratio implies no judgment whatever as to what in
effect constitutes overcrowding. Without measuring the rooms and taking other factors into consideration, it cannot be said
that the presence of two or more persons in a room denotes overcrowding ; but the greater the proportion in any population of
persons housed at the higher ranges of density, the greater will be the prevalence of real overcrowding in that population.