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HOUSING
The Housing Act, 1957 repeals and re-enacts in consolidated form the provisions of the
earlier Housing Acts with the exception of financial provisions.
Sec. 191 of the Act constitutes a comprehensive saving provision which secures continuity
of action by enacting, inter alia, that anything done under a repealed enactment shall have effect
as if done under the corresponding provisions of the new Act and that documents referring to a
repealed enactment shall be construed as referring to the corresponding provision of the new Act.
Housing Consolidation Regulations, 1925, No. 866, Part IV. Inspection of District 8—
1. Number of houses which on inspection were considered to be unfit for human habitation
Three
2. Number of houses in which the defects were remedied in consequence of informal action
by the Local Authority or their Officers
Three
3. Number of representations made to the Local Authority with a view to (a) the serving of
notices requiring the execution of works or (b) the making of demolition or closing
orders
(a) None
(b) None
4. Number of notices served during the execution of works
None
5. Number of houses which were rendered fit after service of formal notices
None
6. Number of demolition or closing orders made
None
7. Number of houses in respect of which an undertaking was accepted under subsection (4)
of section 16 of the Housing Act, 1957
None
8. Number of houses demolished
None
During the year 43 families were rehoused, leaving 732 families for whom accommodation
was required at the end of December 1960. No new housing accommodation was completed
during the year.
The modernisation of North Flats, Artizans Dwellings (44 flats) was commenced during
1960 together with similar work at Windsor House, Shoreditch (104 flats). Smokeless fuel grates
were installed in Viaduct Buildings, Holborn (40 flats).
The Old People's accommodation at Isleden House (31 flats) continues to be of great interest
to people in this country and from overseas who are concerned with the housing and welfare
of the elderly. The result of living under the conditions which obtain at Isleden House is
reflected in the well-being of the elderly residents and their longevity, coupled with the very
infrequent use made of the Sick Bay for treatment of the residents. This allows the Sick Bay to
continue to receive patients from St. Bartholomew's Hospital (a total of approximately 685
having been admitted since 1954) and to receive elderly tenants from the Corporation's housing
estates, in need of rest and medical attention.
The work on the extension (275 flats) to the Corporation's housing estate at Golden Lane
commenced in March 1960 but will not be completed until the end of 1961. The first stage of the
redevelopment of the Corporation's Avondale Square Estate (380 flats) is now in progress and
the first flats are likely to be completed in the latter part of 1961. Work will be started shortly
on the first stage of the redevelopment of the Holloway Estate (24 flats). The replacement of
the sub-standard houses to the north and west of the Metropolitan Cattle Market in Islington by
erection of flats is still held up for want of planning permission for use of the vacant site of
the sheep lairs to the west of the market.
The improvements to the City of London Freemen's Houses (38) in the Ferndale Road,
Brixton have been completed.
I am indebted to Mrs. Rita Cohen, Hon. Welfare Officer and Hon. Secretary of the City of
London Old People's Welfare Association, for the following report
The City of London Old People's Welfare Association continues to try to ease the burden
of the aged members of the community for whom the Association accepts responsibility, by
helping them to utilise their abilities to the fullest, and to assist them to remain in their own
homes by obtaining for them the Statutory benefits to which they are entitled, and by providing
them with the following amenities
Provision of extra domestic assistance to those who can no longer carry out their own daily
chores, etc.
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