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17
The urgent need of new homes obviously overshadows the problem
of the many unfit, lease-expired, basement dwellings in the Borough;
nevertheless, the condition of such premises is a cause of increasing
concern from the health point of view.
The Provision of Housing Accommodation.
During the year no less than 577 housing applications were referred
to my department for a Sanitary Inspector's report as to the urgency
of the case. These reports were supplied not only to our own Housing
Estates Department but also to the London County Council and other
Local Authorities, from whom enquiries were received. A large number
of housing applicants base their claims primarily on insanitary conditions,
and appropriate action is taken by the service of sanitary notices where
the complaints are well founded.
The Housing Estates Manager of the Council has supplied me with
the following information:—
(a) Total number of families rehoused by the Council from
1st January, 1941, to 31st December, 1949 2,452
(b) Total number of families housed during 1949 291
(c) Number of prefabricated dwellings 80
(d) Hutted camps. I am glad to be able to report that all the
hutments at Primrose Hill have been demolished.
(e) Requisitioned properties. The Council hold 501 properties,
comprising 1,574 dwellings under requisition. Four properties
comprising 21 dwellings are in the process of conversion.
During 1949, 48 extra dwellings were provided in requisitioned
properties.
(f) New Housing Estates.
During 1949, progress was made in the provision of new housing
schemes as follows:—
Parkhill Road.
By the end of 1948, 19 flats were completed and the remaining 73
flats were completed and occupied during the early part of 1949.
The dwellings are arranged in two terraces, each of 46 flats, on the
Parkbill Road and Upper Park Road frontages, with a garden between.
The terraces have been named Wood Field and Barn Field respectively,
thus reviving the names of fields originally in this locality.
The new estate was officially opened by Councillor the Hon. John
Fremantle, L.C.C., Chairman of the Housing Committee, on 23rd April,
1949.
Well Walk.
At the end of the year, this scheme was nearing completion, 49 of
the flats being completed and let, and the remaining 15 requiring only
the finishing touches. This attractive scheme was approved by the Fine
Arts Commission. Burgh House, a building of architectural merit, has
been preserved on the site and will be used for cultural and communal
purposes.
The estimated cost of the land and buildings is £171,000.
The new flats have been named The Wells House, to preserve the old
associations of the site.
King Henry's Road and Kilburn Priory.
Building work continued throughout 1949 on the 102 flats at King
Henry's Road and 60 flats at Kilburn Priory. Construction is now well