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3. Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a state so dangerous
or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation 1
4. Number of dwelling-houses found not to be in all respects fit
for human habitation 703
It will be seen that housing work under the Public Health and Housing
Acts has again been on a reduced scale and Notices under these Acts
were confined to defects of such an urgent character as to be classified
as being prejudicial to health. Nevertheless, mainly owing to the acute
difficulties experienced with regard to labour and materials, the time
taken to comply with such Notices was, in the main, excessively
prolonged.
New End and Well Walk Housing Site.
On the 15th and 16th February, 1945, the Minister of Health, through
his Inspector, Mr. H. H. Jewell, F.R.I.B.A., held a Public Inquiry into
the Borough Council's application for a Compulsory Purchase Order on
1 4/5ths acres of land and property at New End Square and Well Walk.
Apart from the Owners of the properties involved and from residents
in the vicinity, objections were raised to the scheme on architectural,
aesthetic and historic grounds by the Hampstead Heath and Old
Hampstead Protection Society ; the Hampstead Artists Council and the
Georgian Group.
In June, 1945, the Minister of Health formally sanctioned the
Compulsory Purchase Order and in his letter to the Council he drew
attention to the recommendation of the Royal Fine Arts Commission
" that the buildings should be planned with special regard for the amenities
of the area and should be in harmony with Burgh House."
Post-War Housing Programme.