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43
Crescent Street Improvement Area.
The general and special powers which apply in the Southam Street area also apply in this area.
The declaration was made by the county council on the 24th April, 1934, and the by-laws for
the abatement of overcrowding and the improvement of the state of habitability were confirmed
by the Minister of Health on the 25th June, 1934. At the date of declaration the area had a
population of 1,782 in 129 houses, an average of 138 per house.
The defective houses sub-committee inspected every basement and overcrowded tenement
during the course of the year. Closing orders were made in respect of 193 basement rooms ; and
148 families, comprising 513 persons, were scheduled for displacement from basements and
overcrowded rooms.
The council's housing staff spent most of their time on the Southam Street area, but it was
possible for them to give some attention to the Crescent Street area. At the end of the year the
position in regard to the vacation of basement rooms and the abatement of overcrowding was as
follows :—

It is proposed that the reconditioning of unfit houses in this area will be undertaken during the
course of 1935.
Treverton Street Improvement Area.
On the 29th January, 1935, the borough council asked the county council to declare the Treverton
Street improvement area, in which there are 238 dwelling houses, accommodating 2,449 persons.
If the county council make the declaration, the defective houses sub-committee will commence their
inspections at an early date. It has been estimated that about 450 persons will be displaced from
the area to relieve overcrowding and in consequence of the closure of basement rooms under the
council's special powers.
Five Years Programme.
This programme was adopted in June, 1933, and from the particulars contained in this report
it will be found that by the end of 1934 the council were actually well ahead of schedule in respect
of clearance areas ; in fact, only two small areas, namely, East Mews Road with 14 houses and
Manchester Mews with four houses, remain for attention. The Southam Street improvement area
is well in advance of schedule, and progress in the Crescent Street improvement area is up to
schedule. Although the borough council have already asked the county council to declare Treverton
Street, this area was actually scheduled for attention in 1936.
The programme estimated that 1,660 persons would be removed from unsatisfactory homes in
1934, but actually the figure was over 2,000. The number of persons rehoused in new flats during
the year was 1,704, and this number was made up as follows :—the Sutton Trust made available
101 flats for the accommodation of 518 persons; the Peabody Donation Fund opened their first
block of 142 flats at Dalgarno Gardens with accommodation for 632 persons ; the Kensington
Housing Trust opened Princess Alice House, which contains 80 flats and accommodates 494 persons;
and the council, on completion of their flats on the corner of Adair Road and Southam Street, provided
accommodation for 60 persons in nine flats. In addition, much accommodation was found
for displaced tenants in the existing properties of the council and the various housing associations.