View report page

51
This multi-occupation is unsatisfactory as, apart from the lack
of amenities, the standard is poor and no privacy is provided for
ordinary family life They are mostly ill arranged and congested and
on modern standards unfit for habitation.
It is true that some improvements have been effected during the
last say five years as a result of action taken under the Public Health
(London) Act as well as by informal action and voluntarily by the
owners but these have been more in the nature of "touching up" without
changing the fundamental unsuitableness of the accommodation provided
Tenement dwellings are a very significant feature of Finsbury
life and apart from those constructed by the Council, were mostly
built between 1862 and 1890 some extra amenities have been added in
some cases but by and large they are exactly as originally built and
contain no more than the bare necessities for family life
Under present standards some of the block buildings may be considered
as obsolete, lacking modern amenities, congested on the site,
badly planned and arranged and many of the rooms are dark, dismal and
depressing with the access of light and air impeded, on modern standards
they too are unfit for habitation
At the present time a further deterioration of much of the old
property of all types is taking place rapidly and there is an urgent
need to retard this process as many years must of necessity elapse
before it can all be done away with
Post War Housing
It is with pleasure that I record that since the war a very considerable
amount of new housing accommodation of a standard commensurate
with present day conception has been completed. This consists
of -
1 By the Finsbury Borough Council - Spa Green Estate 129 flats
Priory Green Estate 269 "
Stuart Mill House 24 "
Harold Laski House 24 "
Greenwood House 24 "
Southwood Court 48 "
Bevin Court 118 "
Holford House 12 "
Stafford Cripps Estate 180 "
8/11 Farringdon Road 8 "
144/6 Wilmington Square 8 "
Total 844 "