View report page

24
HOUSING
The provision of additional dwellings has been one of the most important
matters dealt with by the Council as indeed has been the case with all
councils throughout the country. During 1949 difficulties were no less
than in previous years although they were slightly different.
Two hopes which were entertained at the end of the war have not been
fulfilled. One was that mass production methods would hasten and
cheapen the erection of houses, but these methods, which have been so
successful in other industries, have not been satisfactorily applied to the
building industry in spite of some improvements in building technique.
The other hope was that pattern of costs would follow that of the years
following the first World War when costs inevitably rose but reached a
maximum about 3½ years after the end of the war, following which there
was a steady decline. At the end of 1949, more than 4| years after the
end of the war in Europe there was every indication that the cost of
building houses was still rising sharply.
The increased cost of dwelling requires increased rents and in spite of
the government subsidy and the subsidy required to be met by the local
authority the rent of a new dwelling is tending to be more than an ordinary
working man can afford. The problem cannot be met merely by reducing
the standards for design, materials and amenities because quite apart from
the desirability of improving the general standards of housing, it is necessary
to ensure that, for the normal loan period of 60 years, the buildings
shall remain structurally sound and that they shall be sufficiently attractive
to be fully occupied, although the housing position in say 20 or 40 years
time may be very different from that of to-day.
Deptford has also some particular difficulties which do not apply to the
county as a whole. The area was fully built up before the war and it was
desirable to increase the area of open spaces rather than to encroach on
them for housing. It is likely that further development by the Council
will have to be confined to the erection of flats rather than houses, which
again adds to the cost of dwellings. Also the number of vacant sites
suitable for development is very small and future building will necessitate
the demolition of existing bad or sub-standard houses and the rehousing
of their present occupants. This implies that, without assistance, the
housing of applicants who are at present on the waiting list will be virtually
impossible.
Difficulties will also be encountered in the ultimate disposal of requisitioned
houses which in this Borough involves over 1,400 premises and
more than 2,000 units of tenancy.