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Dwellings built within the Borough since the war number
6,303 and, of these, the Council have been responsible for 2,275,
the London County Council for 2,630, and private enterprise for
1,398. The total includes 434 "rebuilds" but excludes 815 E.F.Ms,
constructed jointly by the Council and the Ministry of Works
and a further 59 "mobile homes" erected by the County Council
since 1962. At the end of 1964, all but 125 of the E.F.Ms, had
been dismantled.
Future Housing Prospects. A population projection in
1948 by the Registrar General gave an estimated population
figure of 45.28 millions for England and Wales by 1971, i.e., a
natural increase of 2 millions between 1951 and 1971. But,
contrary to his assumption that the birth rate would fall progressively
from its peak of 1947, it began to rise from 1955
onwards and the expected increase of 2 millions in twenty years
was achieved in ten. Furthermore, insufficient allowances were
made for the fact that, with greater prosperity and better housing,
young married couples are less likely to live with their in-laws
and also that more elderly people would have their own homes.
This has resulted in the average size of household falling from
3.02 persons to 2.85 within a period of ten years. As a consequence,
more dwellings are required now than in the past to
house any given number of people.
At the present time, 18 million people—35 out of every 100
persons in Great Britain—live in the South East of England.
This fact is brought out in "The South East Study", a report
produced by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in
close co-operation and consultation with other government departments,
the contents of which were presented to Parliament in the
White Paper of March, 1964. The Report also indicates that, by
1981, the same area will see a rise of 3½ millions in the population
of which millions will be by natural increase, i.e., excess of
births over deaths and the remainder will be accounted for by
immigration.
Between the years 1951 and 1961, private households
increased by 12.1% in England and Wales, 2.3% in Greater
London and 1.6% in Greenwich, whereas the rise in the number
of private dwellings was 21.3%, 15.9% and 17.3% respectively.
During the years in question, Greenwich made greater progress in
closing the gap between households and dwellings than Greater
London, or, for that matter, England and Wales as a whole.
Nevertheless, despite very vigorous efforts on the part of the
Council progress has not been all that could be desired for the
difference is still considerable and the problem substantial. The
position can be more clearly demonstrated by quoting the number