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centuries later in 1800. However, at 32½ millions, the population
in 1900 was almost four times that recorded a century earlier and,
by the year 2000, this is expected almost to double to 63 millions.
At the present rate of growth, the last decade of the 20th century
will see the equivalent of 10 Manchesters added to the country's
total population.
Contrary to the world trend regarding urbanisation, this country
is moving towards suburbanisation and an even more prodigal use
of valuable land. With the continued spread of private motoring
to all social classes and virtually subsidised public transport, many
more people are enabled to combine such advantages as fresh air,
gardens, privacy and quietness of the countryside residence with
the better occupational, cultural and social opportunities of the
town. This is exemplified by the fact that, over the last decade,
populations of England's larger towns and conurbations have either
remained static or declined. Greater London is no exception. Its
population has fallen by almost ¾ million since 1962 and its
Council is apprehensive that a continued decline of this nature
could prejudice the area's viability and lead to its losing pride of
place as the world's business and commercial centre. Accordingly,
the Greater London Council plans eventually to stabilise its
population at about 7,300,000 by 1981.
In common with other large urban areas Greenwich, during the
past few years, has suffered a declining population but development
of the Plumstead Marshes by the Greater London Council
will reverse this process. Planned to accommodate 60,000 people in
17,000 homes to be erected during the next fifteen years, mainly
in the Greenwich area, the "Thamesmead" scheme will provide
the occasion not only for new approaches to be made to the
establishment of such supportive services as health, education
and recreation but also for the introduction of rational schemes
for commerce, industry and transport. Invaluable opportunities
will arise for this Borough's representatives to enter into the planning
of the country's most modern and imaginative urban development,
the maturing of which will prove an exacting but exciting
challenge to this department's community care services.
Boundary changes consequent upon the inauguration of the
London Borough of Greenwich meant that, for comparative purposes,
some adjustment to the combined populations of the old
Metropolitan Boroughs of Greenwich and Woolwich had to be
made in respect of the 1961 Census. According to the RegistrarGeneral,
the 1961 Census population for the new Borough is to be
regarded as 230,250, which showed a transfer of 1,899 persons
from North Woolwich to the London Borough of Newham.
The Registrar-General has submitted his estimate of the Home