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Unfortunately, despite government efforts, building costs are
still rising. Prices of materials are not expected to fall, labour costs
remain high and the coming selective employment tax will not
ease the situation. Large building contractors have already
indicated that even system-built local authority houses will be
costing £40 more per unit.
In attempting to keep costs within reasonable limits and, at
the same time, to increase the rate of production, it has been
necessary to make greater use of prefabrication. Inevitably, this
has meant limited ranges of standard type plans, the repetition of
which could lead to monotony on a scale that would be frightening
and, so far, industrialised house building has failed to produce the
richness and variety of the traditional dwelling. Beset with such
problems, it may be difficult for present authorities to avoid
criticism in future years of the kind which is now levelled at the
builders and planners of the 19th century who were subject to
similar pressures arising from the industrial revolution.
On an average, Britain loses about 100,000 houses each year
as a result of clearance schemes, road improvements, etc., and it
has been estimated that she needs to build approximately 150,000
extra houses annually to keep pace with the increasing population
and the rising number of households. Although the South East
Study Report has proved to be a little too pessimistic in that it
overstates the population difficulties in S.E. England, nevertheless,
the problems, especially in the urban areas, remain substantial. For
Greenwich in particular, implementation by the Greater London
Council of the Plumstead Marshes and Kidbrooke Housing
Schemes is awaited with not disinterested anticipation.
New Legislation
The Housing (Prescribed Forms) (Amendment) Regulations,
1965.—These Regulations became operative from 18th February,
1965, and amended certain existing forms consequential upon the
amendment of Part II of the Housing Act, 1961, (carrying out of
works and abatement of overcrowding of houses in multiple occupation) by Part IV of the Housing Act, 1964, and prescribe new
forms.
During the current year the following Circulars were issued by
the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for the guidance
of local authorities: —
Circular 21/65.—In this Circular of 1st April, 1965, the
Minister requested from Housing Authorities submission of housebuilding programmes for the next four years, which period was to
include the current year.