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89
Housing in Hampstead.
During the year 1912 twenty-seven houses have been maisonetted,
and 60 new houses have been built. The process of maisonetting
consists of the structural alteration of houses originally erected for the
occupation of one family; such alterations provide separate accommodation
for two or more families. Sanitary fittings and offices are
multiplied, and the existing fittings and offices modernized and brought
up-to-date in every way. These arrangements enable tenants to enjoy
many of the economical advantages of a small house, coupled with some
of the more desirable features of bigger houses, namely,—large, lofty,
well-arranged rooms, with wide and well-lit and properly ventilated
staircases and passages. The demand for these maisonettes is remarkable,
and most of them are let before the necessary alterations are
completed. Many fine old houses in Hampstead, designed and erected
to meet the requirements of a previous generation, which it has been
found practically impossible to let under their existing conditions and
have been standing empty for a considerable time, have, by the process
of maisonetting, been brought again into occupation and, consequently,
rating. The demand for the new houses has also been very brisk, and
those which have been erected during the year have become occupied as
soon as they are completed. The number of unoccupied houses also
shows a marked decrease during the year. This points to the fact that
Hampstead, in spite of the many counter attractions offered by newer
districts a little further out, still continues to attract new residents.
Very few of the Metropolitan Boroughs continue to do this. I estimate
the increase in the population of Hampstead during 1912 to be 367.
Railway Extension.
The London and North-Western Railway Company, in connection
with their London to Watford Electric Railway, have scheduled 76 houses
in Hampstead for demolition. This scheme of demolition involves the
displacement of certain families belonging to the working classes, and
consequently, a re-housing scheme had to be provided by the Company.
New dwellings in Malvern Road, Willesden, have been erected for the
purpose.
Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act, 1909.
Inspector Townsend, who was appointed for the purposes of the
Housing, Town Planning, &c., Act, 1909, has during the year carried