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31st December, 1955, amounted to 3,435 of which 2,073 have been erected in post-war
years.
Despite this progress, however, the number of housing applicants registered as
in need of alternative accommodation continues to increase and, at the close of the
year, the waiting list totalled 5,701.
The need to put to the best use the diminishing amount of land left available
in Hendon for building purposes is reflected in the increased flats development
undertaken by the Council, and the majority of schemes in progress, or proposed, are
planned on this basis.
The assistance afforded in the past by the New and Expanded Towns has continued,
and during the past twelve months many families have been nominated by Hendon for
rehousing in these areas. Without this help these families who are now happily
settled in decent living conditions would have been obliged for many years to come
to exist in unsatisfactory housing accommodation.
The clearance of outdated dwellings has progressed, and the Cricklewood Lane
Redevelopment, providing 140 flats, is now completed. Hendon Park Row redevelopment
scheme, providing 36 flats, is now nearing completion, and a commencement has been
made on the clearing away of the 73 temporary bungalows in Claremont Road and
Miitefield Avenue, so that this site may be redeveloped to provide for 184 dwellings.
Approval has also been obtained in principle to redevelopment in the following
areas:-
New Brent Street (North and South)
Belle Vue Terrace and Hermitage Lane.
Proposals have been submitted for similar redevelopment at West Hendon and
Granville Road.
During the year the Council has commenced a modernisation scheme affecting
50 houses in the Childs Hill area, to provide for a separate hot water system, a
bathroom, and improvements in sanitary and food storage accommodation, in each house.
The welfare of elderly persons has not been overlooked, despite the pressing
problems presented by overcrowding. Apart from the conversion of premises purchased
and converted by the Council to bed-sitting room accommodation, all new estates
provide for a proportion of dwellings specially designed for rehousing the older
members of the community.
The demand from families evicted or threatened with eviction shows slight signs
of improvement but emergency accommodation in Half-Way houses is not always available
and although 21 families were helped during 1955, in a number of other instances it
proved impossible to assist.
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