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The initial approach must come from the tenant in these cases and it is discouraging
to find how little this provision is used although its usefulness in General
Improvement Areas must not be overlooked.
Area Improvement
Part II of the Housing Act, 1969, confers upon local authorities powers to deal
with the improvement of living conditions in predominantly residential areas by declaring
General Improvement Areas. It is envisaged that in addition to securing the improvement
of the dwellings within an area, the authority should themselves undertake work to
improve the general environment. The type of improvement works considered to be
desirable are tree planting, providing play spaces, grassed or paved areas, parking spaces
and garages. It is also suggested that street lighting may be renewed, road surfaces repaired
and road patterns replanned. Approved expenditure in respect of such works based
upon the number of dwellings in the area will attract grant from Central Government.
Following upon the survey of the Borough undertaken during 1970 in order to
identify areas having the essential characteristics needed to justify designation as
General Improvement Areas, the Council considered alternative schemes for three selected
areas and agreed to proceed with a pilot scheme for Brunswick Crescent, New Southgate,
subject to the residents indicating their willingness to co-operate.
Although the Housing Act, 1969, repealed the power given in earlier legislation
to make Improvement Areas, local authorities are nevertheless able to deal appropriately
with those areas already declared. Following completion of the improvement of the housing
stock in the Prospect Road, Childs Hill area in the previous year 1971 saw the Council's
second Improvement Area at Brent Terrace, Cricklewood, with a total content of 91 dwellings,
brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
Further, the completion of improvement schemes for the 136 houses in Campion,
Needham, Johnston and Midland Terraces, Cricklewood continued during the year. Before
formal designation as an Improvement Area, the owners of this estate gave an undertaking
to the Council to carry out complete modernisation of properties as they became
vacant and to improve the remaining houses including those where the sitting tenants
were desirous of purchasing for owner/occupation. In addition to the improvement of the
housing stock the owners have undertaken for the estate as a whole improvements to the
communal garden areas and the provision of additional parking spaces and garage
accommodation, and so contributing elements of environmental improvement.
Overcrowding
The following statement provides a summary of the known cases of overcrowding
existing or dealt with during the year, the standard of assessing overcrowding being that
specified by the Housing Act, 1957.
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