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14
The Minister of Health confirmed the compulsory purchase order made by the Council respecting
the St. John's Wood Road site with a view to the erection thereon of a block of 23 flats at a cost of
£13,500, and application was made to the Minister of Health for authorisation to obtain tenders for
the development of the site in order that building works could commence in 1949.
The Council are also investigating a number of small sites with a view to housing development.
Adaptation of Premises.—The extensive survey of unoccupied premises was completed during the year
and, where suitable, such premises were requisitioned to provide more housing accommodation.
The total number of residential units held by the Council in requisitioned premises at 31st December,
1948, was 1,091.
St. Marylebone Housing Association.—Twenty-four flats on the Cochrane Street site were completed
and occupied during the year. The tenants were nominated by the Council.
"Half-way" Houses.—Ministry of Health approval was received by the Council for inviting tenders
for the conversion of Nos. 45-49, Beaumont Street and 39-41, Nottingham Street into " half-way "
houses.
Finchley Road and St. John's Wood Park Areas.—The London County Council made Orders under
the Housing Act, 1936, for the compulsory purchase for housing purposes of properties in St. John's
Wood Park, Boundary Road and Finchley Road. Approximately 16.810 acres (gross) of land included
in the proposed schemes are within the boundaries of the Borough. The orders have not yet been
confirmed by the Minister of Health.
Fisherton Street Housing Estate (Borough Council).—The laundry at this estate was modernised
during the year at a cost of £729, and the renovation of the central hot water system was undertaken.
The repair of outstanding war damage was also completed.
Crawford Place Dwellings (Borough Council).—The work of reinstating four basement flats used as an
air raid shelter was put in hand and they will be ready for occupation next year.
Inspection of Dwelling-houses.—Number of houses inspected for defects under the Public Health or
Housing Acts—3,952 ; number of inspections made—9,140; number of houses found not to be in all
respects reasonably fit for human habitation—1,144; number of defective houses rendered fit in
consequence of informal action—925; number of houses in which defects were remedied by owners
after service of formal notices under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936—239.
Underground Rooms.—Number of rooms in respect of which closing orders were made under section
12 of the Housing Act, 1936—40; number of closing orders determined—4. In one case of a basement
dwelling where there had been contravention of a closing order, legal proceedings were instituted
under section 14 of the Act. A fine of 10s. was imposed and costs were awarded to the Council. A
number of undertakings from owners not to use or permit to be used underground rooms for human
habitation were accepted by the Public Health Committee during the year.
Rehousing.—During the year 550 enquiries were received from the Council's Housing Director, the
County Medical Officer of Health and the Director of Housing of the London County Council, and
from other authorities, regarding the circumstances of persons applying for re-housing. Many
applicants sought priority on grounds of overcrowding; others complained of the dilapidated
condition of their dwellings or a lack of amenities; yet another group claimed preference on account
of ill-health. Each case necessitated an investigation by a sanitary inspector before the enquirer
could be provided with a report to assist him in assessing the degree of priority to be given to the
various applicants. The number of these enquiries has shown a marked increase because, with the
shortage of housing accommodation generally, applicants for re-housing are not now confined to
persons living in the poorer parts of the Borough but include practically all classes of the population
who have to seek other accommodation.
Housing of Persons from Abroad.—In view of the great shortage of housing accommodation in this
country and the need for preventing overcrowding wherever possible, it appeared desirable that there
should be some procedure whereby a local authority was given an opportunity of expressing views
on the adequacy or otherwise of accommodation proposed to be offered to persons who intended
entering this country from abroad. The matter was therefore brought to the notice of the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee with a view to the Government Departments concerned being
approached to ensure that the local authority of any district in which it was proposed to house persons
from abroad should be advised of the fact before those persons entered the country, in order that a
report might be submitted to the appropriate government or other authority as to the adequacy or
suitability of the accommodation intended to be offered. Action along these lines was prompted by