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for a portion of the number who previously occupied the old houses. There may, however, be some
insanitary areas in the outlying districts, where the houses are only two storeys high arid have a fair
amount of space at the rear, on the cleared sites of which it would be possible to provide new accommodation
for a number equal to that of the persons displaced. In the Walworth district houses of this
class have been demolished and three-storey block dwellings erected; the space between and around
the blocks is well paved so that there is no exposed polluted soil, and this class of dwelling has obvious
advantages over that built upon the old damp sites with unpaved spaces at the rear in which animal
and vegetable matters accumulate and pollute the soil.
"The second section of unsuitable accommodation comprises certain large areas in portions of
London, principally in the older parts, where the continued occupation of the houses is, on health
grounds, undesirable, for one or more of the following reasons, namely, age, defective construction,
decay, dampness or dilapidated and verminous condition. There are no detailed particulars in the
Council's possession as to the extent of this class of accommodation, but it can hardly be doubted that
it is considerable."
On 3rd June, 1919, the Housing of the Working Classes Committee submitted to the Council
a report in which the nature and extent of existing evils were outlined and a summary of the proposals
under consideration or in contemplation was given.
In this report the work to be done was divided into four heads—
(i.) Development of existing estates;
(ii.) Acquisition of new estates;
(iii.) Clearance of insanitary areas;
(iv.) Improvement of unhealthy dwellings.
As regards (i.)—the development of existing estates—it was pointed out that the Council has
three estates, two of them situated outside the County, which are not as yet fully developed. These
have a total area of 106.53 acres on which will be erected about 2,000 cottages containing 8,412 rooms
with accommodation for some 10,000 persons.
As regards (ii.)—the acquisition of new estates—the report called attention to the recent decision
to purchase an estate of 143 acres on which it was proposed to accommodate about 6,000 persons in
some 1,200 cottages; while with the maturing of other proposals for purchase it was estimated that,
apart Irom the rebuilding on cleared insanitary areas, it is probable that from 25,000 to 20,000 cottages
could be erected with accommodation for approximately 130,000 persons, making, with the accommodation
under item (iii.) an approximate total of 29,000 cottages with accommodation for 145,000
persons.
In dealing with (iii.)—clearance of insanitary areas—two schemes have been decided upon,
one 6f which is now in course of execution. These will provide accommodation for 3,460 persons. In
addition there are 22 other areas with a population of about 40,000 which, in the opinion of the
Housing Committee, should be dealt with. It was also pointed out in the report that there were many
small areas or groups of houses which would naturally receive the attention of the borough councils.
With regard to (iv.)—improvement of unhealthy dwellings—the Committee put forward no
programme as this was a sphere of activity appertaining primarily to borough councils, and the existence
of alternative accommodation was necessary before any effective action could be taken.
The Committee further pointed out that any proposals then made must be regarded not as a
programme of final and complete reform, but as intended to meet the pressing requirements of the
present time, and they presented to the Council the following recommendations which were adopted :—
(a) That a scheme be made and submitted to the Council without delay for the provision
by the Council of dwellings for the working classes and the improvement of housing conditions
in London on the following basis—
(i.) The provision within a period of five years from the date of the approval of the
scheme by the Local Government Board of a total of not fewer than 29,000 new dwellings,
exclusive of those to be erected upon the cleared sites of insanitary areas, to accommodate
a population of approximately 145,000 persons upon condition that the financial assistance
of the' State shall not be limited to work completed in any part of this period, and provided
that the Council shall not lose such assistance if the Council fails to complete within the
time limit through circumstances beyond its control, such as labour, materials and
difficulties with regard to sites, after showing reasonable diligence in prosecuting the
scheme.
(ii.) The provision, if possible, of not fewer than 10,000 of the dwellings referred to
in (i.) before 31st March, 1921, to accommodate about 50,000 persons.
(iii.) Immediate steps for securing the clearance of certain of the worst remaining
insanitary areas containing a population estimated at 40,000.
(b) That before the end of the period of five years mentioned in the foregoing scheme
the Council do reconsider the position, having regard to the then existing conditions of the
supply and demand of houses and to the existing sanitary conditions, and do thereafter decide
what further steps should be taken to meet those conditions.
Offensive trades.
In November, 1918, legal proceedings were instituted by the St. Pancras Borough Council
against a tallow melter, whose works were situated in the borough, for having caused effluvium nuisance.
The hearing of the case was adjourned in order that the defendant might carry out at the premises
certain works of improvement which it was hoped would remove cause for complaint.