View report page

2.The population continues to increase; young people continue to
get married, and the need for more housing units increases ever
year.
At one time the Council was interested in the question of erecting
houses outside the Borough, but during the last year, they have
informed the Ministry of Health that, circumstances having
changed, they are no longer interested in this project.
3.A large number of families are at present accommodated in
requisitioned houses—that is, in houses which actually belong to
other people. It is fairly safe to assume that a considerable number
of these houses will continue to be held under requisition so long
as the acute shortage of accommodation persists.
But one might at any rate bear in mind that the day may come
when these owners will try to assert their rights to occupy and
dispose of what is their own property in their own way.
Meanwhile the need continues, and all the drawbacks and hardships
to which I have referred in previous reports remain without
alleviation, and almost without hope of alleviation. I have frequently
emphasised that the foundation of a healthy life can only be laid in a
healthy and happy home: while housing conditions remain unsatisfactory,
much of the work of and advice given by the Public Health Department
will be of limited value.
In these days, when so many of their previous functions are being
taken from Local Authorities below County or County Borough status
the duty of dealing with unsatisfactory housing conditions remains
and a determined and successful effort to solve the housing problem
would in the long run be a considerable compensation for the loss of
control over other branches of the Health Services.
It is easy to see what is needed, but not so easy to see how it should
be done.
The basic need is of course to build or provide in other ways
additional housing units for the people of Beckenham.
1.If the Council adheres to the decision that there is no more land
available for Corporation houses, it will not be possible to solve
the problem by building Corporation houses in Beckenham.
2.If the Council is still not interested in building Corporation houses
outside the Borough, no assistance can be looked for in this way.
3.So, as far as new construction is concerned, the only alternative
lies in the redevelopment of certain areas in the Borough
consequent increase in density of occupation in those particular
areas.
4.The Council has been informed by the Ministry of Town
Country Planning that Beckenham was assumed to be an
"Exporting" Authority and had been linked with the New Town
at Crawley (Sussex).
20