View report page

129
of marriages in Greenwich since 1945, viz., 14,215. On the other
hand, dwellings erected during the same period amounted only to
7,177 which figure includes 875 E.F.Ms, and L.C.C. mobile homes.
Although for various reasons this latter example does not give
a strictly accurate picture, it does indicate the current trend and
the serious situation confronting housing authorities.
The South East Study Report estimates that, up to 1981,
London will require 550,000 additional houses over and above
replacement building, and Greenwich will doubtless have to take
its fair share of the burden.
A new, progressive and enlightened housing policy is called
for especially towards the elderly whose needs and numbers are
increasing perhaps a little more rapidly than other sections of
the community. Greater use of prefabrication also seems imperative.
Nevertheless, because of the urgency of the situation
there must be no stampeding into hasty decisions and premature
actions which, in more sober moments, may be found to be faulty.
Much criticism has been levelled by the moderns at the architects
and builders of the 19th century when, under severe pressure
exerted by the industrial revolution, they became responsible for the
urban areas which are now subject to re-planning and re-building.
In those days the sudden and pressing demand for housing was
met by impulsive design and hurried construction, neither actions
being conducive to a satisfactory outcome. Similar pressures are
beginning to show themselves to-day and it is conceivable that
similar mistakes may now be made, sufficient to warrant similar
scathing criticism in future years. Most problems tend to be more
easily solved with a little "hind-sight" so it would seem prudent
to consider all re-planning schemes on their respective merits and
not to adopt them merely because they happen to be modern.
For instance, it was only a few years ago when multi-storey flats
were hailed as the answer to the housing problem, not only on
the grounds of providing high density resettlement but also on
those of finance. To-day, even the Town and Country Planning
Association, although acknowledging the need for higher population
density in many areas, is suggesting to the Ministry of Housing
and Local Government that this should not necessarily result
in "high rise" building. They are, in fact, advocating the age-old
psychologically sound idea that families should occupy houses
with gardens wherever possible and, where this is not possible,
then blocks of flats no higher than 3 or 4 storeys, at which height,
building costs are little more than for ordinary houses.
However, with regard to slum clearance, whatever the merits
or otherwise of any particular project, it is almost certain to be
affected by a labour shortage problem for the rate of slum