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A return was sent to the Ministry of Health replacing my
estimate of the population of 263,047 by 278,780, this latter figure, on
a basis of five to a house, after making certain deductions, gives 2,183
as the number of houses to be built if the housing needs of the
Borough are to be met.
Early in the year a number of sites were considered as being
suitable for the erection of houses. These included land in the
Newlands, Forest Hill, Casino House grounds and other sites in the
Dulwich area. Negotiations were at once started for the building
of houses on the first two of these sites, and at the end of the year
some 30 were ready for occupation, and by the end of 1921 this
number will have largely increased.
With this an increase of population will inevitably occur in
Peckham, Dulwich and East Dulwich, but the rest of the Borough
will probably decrease as the result of factories taking the place of
dwelling-houses and the demolition of certain overcrowded areas.
APPENDICES.
Housing Conditions.
STATISTICS, YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER, 1921.
1. GENERAL.
(1) Estimated population (Registrar-General's Estimate) 284,712
(2) General death rate 11.7
(3) Death rate from tuberculosis 1.24
(4) Infantile mortality 71
(5) Number of dwelling-houses of all classes 61,697
(6) Number of working-class dwelling-houses -
(7) Number of new working-class houses erected 30
2. UNFIT DWELLING-HOUSES.
I. Inspection.
(1) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected for housing defects
under Public Health or Housing Acts 7,263
(2) Number of houses which were inspected and recorded under the
Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910 None
(3) Number of dwelling houses found to be in a state so dangerous to
health as to be unlit for human habitation 44
(4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of those referred to under
the preceding sub-heading) found not to be in all respects reasonably
tit for human habitation 4,959
II. Remedy of defects without service of formal notice.
Number of defective dwelling-houses rendered fit in consequence of
informal action by the local authority of their officers None
III. Action under statutory powers.
(a) Proceedings under Section 28 of the Housing, Town Planning, &c.,
Act, 1919 :—
*(1) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which notices were served
requiring repairs 25
(2) Number of dwelling-houses which were rendered fit:—
(a) By owners 19
(b) By local authority in default of owners 1
(3) Number of dwelling-houses in respect of which closing orders
became operative in pursuance of declarations by owners of intention
to close None
*A number of small requirements which really came within the scope of Section 28 were
included in the Public Health notices.