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22
Slum Clearance
During the year, action was taken as follows in respect of premises included in the Council's slum
clearance programme for the period 1970-73:-
Amberley Road Area: A report on the conditions found in this area indicated that whilst all of the 24
houses were sub-standard in varying degree, only 7 houses were in such condition as to justify representation
for clearance area procedure. As 5 of those houses are not contiguous, however, they could not
independently be declared a clearance area, and it was considered that no useful purpose would be served
by declaring the remaining 2 houses a clearance area.
The 24 houses were therefore deleted from the slum clearance programme and appropriate action under
the Housing Acts will be initiated in respect of each individual house, with a view to bringing the area as a
whole up to an acceptable standard.
Brewer Street, Green's Court, Peter Street Area: A compulsory purchase order under Part III, Housing
Act 1957, was made by the Council on the 21st December, 1971, and has been submitted to the Secretary
of State for the Environment for confirmation.
The order is in respect of Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (also known as 22A and 23A Peter Street), 8, 9 and 10/11
(also known as 20 Brewer Street) Green's Court, W.1; Nos. 24/25 (also known as St. Peter's Buildings) and
26 Peter Street, W.1; and Nos. 14/16 Brewer Street, W.1 (also known as Pulteney Chambers), and includes
as "added lands" Nos. 18 and 22 Brewer Street, W.1.
St. Michael's Street, Bouverie Place, Star Street Area: It was decided to delete from the slum clearance
programme 16 properties in this area which had been proposed for clearance area procedure. This action
was taken as a result of information received from the Inner London Education Authority that it was their
intention to extend the site of the St. Michael's Church of England Primary School, and that the extension
site of the school, including the proposed slum clearance properties, would be acquired by a compulsory
purchase order under the Education Acts, if necessary.
A further 15 properties in the general area of St. Michael's Street, Sale Place and Junction Place were
also deleted from the slum clearance programme. In the case of 3 of these premises, demolition had been
carried out by the owners; 10 of the properties had been found to be almost entirely in business use, and
closing order procedure was considered appropriate in respect of 2 houses.
Daventry Street/Lisson Street Areas: The premises in these areas are all within a defined school site, and
a detailed survey has been undertaken and completed. A comprehensive report on the conditions existing in
the areas has been under consideration, and the Council has declared its intention to secure clearance of the
areas by the end of 1973. Decisions on the action to be taken to achieve this will be made early in 1972.
Archer Street Area: A survey of the premises in this area has been completed and a report is under
consideration. It is anticipated that representations pursuant to Part III, Housing Act 1957, will be made in
1972.
A further 116 premises in various parts of the City have been deleted from the slum clearance
programme for reasons which include private redevelopment, rehabilitation by owners, and clearance
procedure not considered appropriate after detailed surveys had been completed.
The following areas were also included in the slum clearance programme 1966-70:
Merries Street Areas: By the end of the year, the majority of the houses in the North area had been
demolished, and further progress was being made in the rehousing of qualifying tenants from the South
area.
St. Anne's Court/Richmond Buildings Area: All of the properties in this area have been demolished.
A summary of visits in connection with slum clearance is included in Table 11, page 74.
Unfit Premises
Details of action taken during the year in relation to closing order procedure are given in Table 13,
page 75.