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Housing Act, 1957, Part II - Individual Houses
On routine inspections two houses were found to be unfit and because of the amount of work
required both were considered incapable of being rendered fit at reasonable cost. One of these is
owned by the Bridge House Estates and steps are being taken to re-house the tenant concerned.
As regards the other, the appropriate notices have been served and a decision is due to be taken
early in the New Year, after an opportunity has been given to the owners of the premises to make
representations to the Housing Committee.
The Housing Department during the latter part of 1972 re-housed the tenant from the property
declared unfit in 1970, which is owned by the City Corporation and the Planning and Communications
Committee has arranged for the house to be closed pending its demolition when the area is
subsequently redeveloped.
Housing Act, 1957, Part III — Clearance Area, Fleet Lane
After protracted but abortive negotiations between the Comptroller and City Solicitor's Department
and the owners of the property contained in the clearance area, the Secretary of State for the
Environment arranged for a local Public Inquiry, which was held on 20th April, 1972.
At the Inquiry the fact that the houses were unfit was not disputed, but it was vigorously
contended that the method chosen by the Corporation, of making a clearance and a compulsory
purchase order to deal with the properties, was not the best and it was inferred that the decision
of the Corporation had been in part motivated in order to obtain land for road-widening at cheaperthan-market
price. This imputation was far from the truth. In any event, fears of this Department
regarding nuisances occurring afterthe premises were closed and the dangers of illegal occupancy
were not sufficient to influence the Secretary of State, and in a letter dated 31st July, 1972, he
quashed the orders but expressed the hope that the "owners would take effective steps to prevent
illegal occupancy of the premises and to give serious consideration to improving the decorative
state of the front elevation".
The Minister's Inspector felt that the dwellings could be dealt with by a Closing Order and
towards the end of 1972 this matter was again reported to the Housing Committee and a deoision
is due to be taken early in 1973 after representations have been received from the owners of the
property.
The following report has been received from the Housing Manager:-
"During the year 224 families were rehoused leaving 646 families on the housing register
at the end of December 1972 which included 238 tenants who required more suitable accommodation.
The second stage of the Middlesex Street Estate redevelopment was completed in the
early part of the year and provided 80 units of accommodation in Petticoat Tower. The final
stage of the redevelopment is under construction and good progress is being made. The estate,
when completed will provide a shopping and residential precinct of 181 flats and 38 shops
with parking and garage facilities at lower levels.
The construction of the Old People's Unit comprising 60 units of accommodation, and
30 family residential units on the site of Otto House, Sydenham Hill progressed satisfactorily
and the accommodation is programmed for occupation during the summer of 1973.
The fourth and final stage of the redevelopment of the Holloway Estate having been
approved will provide, when built, 64 flats on the site between Camden Road and Parkhurst
Road of which 52 flats will be for Corporation use and 12 ground floor flats will be let to
John Groom's Association for the Disabled on terms agreed. These are designed to meet the
special needs of disabled people. It is anticipated that building works will commence towards
the end of 1973.
The appropriation of those properties in the Kennington Road which were formerly part
of the Bridge House Estate was finalised and the properties transferred to the management of
the Housing Committee to facilitate the development of the site bounded by Kennington Road,
Hercules Road and Cosser Street. The redevelopment, as approved, will provide 98 units of
accommodation and 9 shops with Blake House being retained on the Hercules Road frontage.
Of the 2,100 flats and houses in the Barbican residential development approximately
1,000 have been completed, 300 of these during the year, including the four hundred feet high
Cromwell Tower which is now being let. There are now about 1,500 residents in Barbican.
The Barbican Hostel is now fully occupied, providing accommodation for 200 students and
young people. Work on the excavation and foundations of the Arts Centre is well under way."
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