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25
To make these figures realistic it should be pointed out that the figures
for those rehoused are -extremely unlikely to be from recommendations of the same
year.
The re-housing of families displaced by slum clearance now receives priority
over all other categories. This means that the hard core of those living in overcrowded
dwellings or with medical conditions requiring better housing, is gradually
increasing and their condition becoming more acute. A solution to this problem
is not easy to envisage, particularly in Hammersmith, where building sites are at
a premium. Residents who might with advantage move to one of the new towns
are loathe to leave their own particular locality within the Borough and very few
indeed will even consider living outside London.
One of Hammersmith's problems has been the occupation of the older, larger
type residence by several families in place of the single family for which it was
designed. This frequently gives rise to unsatisfactory housing conditions as the
change in user often takes place without any structural alteration and without the
provision of adequate amenities in the way of water supply, baths, w.c. accommodation,
with the consequent loss of privacy and the sharing of the sanitary arrangements.
Squalid conditions arise as a result.
Overcrowding results either from the growth of the family in limited space or,
because of the shortage of housing accommodation in London and the high rental
charges, families are forced to accept inadequate housing.
With the coming into force of the 1961 Housing Act with its powers to require
the provision of additional amenities; to apply Regulations for a decent standard
of management, and to fix as a limit the maximum number of persons who should
occupy a house having regard to the amenities available, it was thought that we
could deal with this type of property more effectively. In the event, however, there
have been many difficulties arising from involved procedure and also the lack of
space for additional amenities, which often result in reducing the number of
habitable rooms available. It does mean that we have to proceed cautiously to
try to overcome these conditions, and unless the number of people coming into
London remains stationary or is reduced, the position is likely to deteriorate still
further.
Overcrowding in the Borough remains a very serious problem, but although
there is ample legislative power to exercise, the enforcement of the legal provisions
would only result either in placing an additional burden on the Welfare and Children's
Departments of the County Council or in compelling families to leave this
borough and embarrass other authorities by adding to their housing lists.
Demolition of the 85 houses in the Mardale/Southbrook Slum Clearance
Scheme continued during the year. The erection of the 88 two-bedroom and 4
one-bedroom flats planned for the area will commence mid-1963.
The site of the Latimer Road (South) Clearance Area has been cleared and
Town Planning consent for the first stage was received from the London County
Council on 3rd October, 1962.
Provision has been made for the erection on this site of two blocks of multistorey
flats each consisting of 88 two-bedroom, 44 one-bedroom and 44 bed-sitting
room flats; a block of 14 two-bedroom maisonettes, 4 one-bedroom and 4 bedsitting
room flats, and another of 26 three-bedroom and 6 two-bedroom maisonettes,
16 one-bedroom flats and 8 lock-up garages.
In all a total of 430 units of accommodation.
Town Planning consent was received on 26th July, 1962, from the London
County Council for the erection of 20 three-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom maisonettes
on the Hammersmith Grove/Goldhawk Road site, together with 14 twobedroom
and 42 one-bedroom flats. 42 garages will also be provided.