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47
The western area of Kensal New Town, which is scheduled for
non-residential purposes, will be dealt with by the London County
Council as and when convenient.
During 1961 the County Council declared two areas in Bosworth
Road to be clearance areas under Part III of the Housing Act, 1957. The
premises affected by this are Nos.12 to 46 (even) Bosworth Road. The
land in these clearance areas, together with certain adjoining land, is
zoned in the County development plan for open space purposes.
ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING OF COMMON STAIRCASES IN TENEMENT HOUSES AND FLATS
Council Byelaws relating to artificial lighting of common
staircases in tenement houses and flats came into operation on 11th
March, 1958* The principal Byelaw reads as follows:-
"The occupier of every tenement house to which
these Byelaws apply and the owner of every block of
flats shall provide adequate artificial lighting
for all common staircases:-
(a) from half an hour before sunset until
12 o'clock midnight;
(b) for one hour before sunrise during the
months of October, November, December,
January, February and March; and
(c) at other times as and when necessary if
adequate means of natural lighting are
not provided."
During 1961 formal notices were served in 6 cases, requiring
compliance with these Byelaws.
IMPROVEMENT OR CONVERSION OF EXISTING HOUSES
Owners of private dwellings may apply to the Council for
assistance towards carrying out works of improvement or conversion.
One aim is to encourage owners to provide services and amenities in
houses which are sound but which were built to a lower standard than
is generally acceptable nowadays. The other is to encourage the
provision of additional satisfactory dwellings, either by converting
the large outmoded house from one dwelling into a number of flats,
or by converting an old building into one or more dwellings.
Grants are not intended to help owners meet the cost of
ordinary repairs and renewals, nor are they intended to adapt a
perfectly adequate dwelling to the needs of a particular family.
They are not normally payable for the provision of extra living rooms
or bedrooms, or for increasing the size of existing rooms. They are
not payable for the improvement of premises used primarily or partly
for business premises.
Two methods of application are available. The first is
to apply for an improvement grant-known as a discretionary grantunder
the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958. The maximum
grant payable is one half of the approved expenditure (which must
not be less than £100) subject to a maximum allowance of £400.
In considering a scheme of improvement or conversion submitted
for grant, only one question may properly be asked, namely,
whether it will produce a satisfactory modernised dwelling complying
with the statutory conditions and the specified requirements.