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Pursuant to the resolution of the Council of the 18th March, 1937, steps were taken to measure
the rooms in working class houses for the purpose of ascertaining the permitted number for each
working-class dwelling and for the furnishing of this information to landlords for insertion in the
prescribed form of notices in rent-books.
Of the 9,180 houses forming the subject of this survey, 8,494 houses, comprising 22,207 dwellings,
were completely measured. A further 336 houses were found to be owner-occupied or not to be in
working-class occupation and were not measured, and admission to 350 houses could not be obtained.
The total cost of the survey was £604, the London County Council contributing half of this sum.
Housing Act, 1936.
Part III.
During the year clearance or compulsory purchase orders were confirmed by the Minister of
Health as follows:—
Titchborne Row (12 houses).
Clearance Order confirmed, subject to a payment being made by the Council under Section 42 in respect
of eight houses.
Burlington Mews West (24 houses).
Compulsory Purchase Order confirmed, subject to the modification that Ref. No. 11 will be excluded
from the Clearance Area but will remain in the Order as lands adjoining the Area, to be purchased by the
Council under Section 27 of the Act. The Minister also directed that a payment under Section 42 shall be
made in respect of Ref. Nos. 4, 5 and 7.
Burlington Mews East (12 houses).
Compulsory Purchase Order confirmed without modification.
Seven other clearance or compulsory purchase orders referred to in last year's annual report have
not yet been confirmed by the Minister.
Paddington Borough Council, Clarendon Street Redevelopment Area.
On the 24th June, 1937, the Council declared an area bounded by the rear boundaries of the
properties in Harrow Road, the Canal, the west side of Ranelagh Road and the north side of Bourne
Terrace, to be a proposed redevelopment area. It is proposed to provide in the area housing accommodation
for persons of the working classes. A redevelopment plan is being prepared and will be
submitted to the Minister of Health in due course.
Acreage of lands comprised in the area 14.4 acres
Total population on 14th October, 1937 4,281
Total number of houses 423
Number of working-class houses 397
Number of persons of the working-classes occupying the houses 4,235
Number of non-working-class houses 16
Number of persons occupying these houses 40
Number of premises not in use for human habitation (stores, etc.) 10
Houses Unfit for Human Habitation.
The following figures show the extent of the Council's operations during 1937 :
Number of basement rooms closed for human habitation 52
Number of basement rooms closed for sleeping purposes only 126
Number of dwelling-houses or parts of dwelling-houses closed for human habitation
(other than basement rooms) 73
Number of persons displaced or who will be displaced as a result of the Council's
operations 551
Number of displaced persons re-housed on London County Council Housing Estates 249
A number of displaced persons have found accommodation through their own efforts, while
others are awaiting suitable vacancies on London County Council Estates.
In lieu of making closing orders the Council, in 68 instances, after consultation with owners,
accepted undertakings from them as empowered by Section 11 (3) of the Housing Act, 1936. Such
undertakings possess the advantage of expediting procedure, whilst securing the closure of the parts
of the premises to which they refer as effectively as though closing orders had been made. Subsequently,
three of the owners submitted proposals for making the premises fit for human habitation.
In each instance the proposals were approved, the work carried out to the satisfaction of the Council,
and the undertakings cancelled.
A number of other premises have been made fit for human habitation without recourse to formal,
proceedings under the Housing Act.
During the year 596 inspections and 1,537 re-inspections of basement premises were made.
Compulsory Repairs.
No notices were served during the year under Section 9 of the Housing Act, 1936.