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estimated need, as disclosed by surveys made by Local Authorities in pursuance
of Section I. of the Housing Act, 1919. amounted in round figures to 800,000
houses, taking account of replacements of existing unsatisfactory houses.
Conferences.—On February 27th and 28th the National Housing and
Town Planning Council convened one to consider ''After-the-war Housing
Schemes in Greater London." Edmonton sent its Architect and Engineer, who
presented a report in March. The principal matter discussed appeared to be
a circular of the L.G.B. dated February 6th, 1919, defining the terms on which
financial assistance will be given to Local Sanitary Authorities for housing
schemes. But these were also discussed:—(1) The financial terms of the Government;
(2) the production and supply of materials; (3) problems of administration.
It was stated that out of 50,000 houses, 12,500 were required for the E. and N.E.
areas, and the further formation of dense, purely working-class, districts, was
deprecated. Block dwellings or cottage flats were also tabooed. It was
hoped that the Government would deal with Greater London, with reference
to new houses, as a single unit, and that the rateable burden should be distributed
over the whole area. The Conference, by a large majority, advised
the setting up of a Housing and Town Planning Government Commission,
who should exercise housing and town-planning powers over the whole area,
including the present County of London. A further conference, held on the
10th April, at the offices of the L.C.C., advocated the formation of a joint
committee, which should be arranged by the L.G.B., for an area (mainly)
coincident with the Metropolitan Police District for the purpose of providing
a complete scheme, and controlling the financial arrangements.
A Conference organised by the National Housing and Town Planning
Council, was held on December 10th, to discuss the financial and other aspects
of housing schemes. Two Councillors and the Engineer attended.
THE HOUSING AND TOWN-PLANNING COMMITTEE.
The Housing and Town Planning Committee held its first meeting for the
year on 25th June, when Councillor Cadman was re-elected Chairman. At
this meeting it was reported that the L.C.C. had decided to carry out their
own scheme without co-operation with the Local Sanitary Authorities of Greater
London, and that pending the passing of the new Housing and Town Planning
Act, most of the latter were not moving in the matter It will be remembered
that about 35 acres of the L.C.C. White Hart Lane Estate are in our area, at
the S.W. corner, and that the cost of administration of the estate when inhabited,
e.a., the maintenance of the roads and the education of the children,
will fall entirely on this poor Authority. At this meeting the Architect (Mr.
H. W. Dobb) submitted a lay-out plan of the Council's Brookfield Estate,
showing how 146 houses could be built thereon at not more than 12 to the
acre.