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A feature of the year's building programme has been the commencement of the first phase in
the redevelopment of the New Brent Street area. This redevelopment will be carried out in three
phases spread over three years, and when completed will provide accommodation for some 188
families, housed in two eleven storey and nine five storey blocks of flats. The design and construction
of these flats are on the most modern lines and incorporate electric floor storage heating —
the most up to date medium of space heating for dwellings.
Apart from the areas chosen for redevelopment cases arise where isolated properties have
fallen into an advanced state of disrepair and in order to close these to human habitation as soon
as possible, it is the policy of the Council to assist the occupants with permanent accommodation.
During the course of the year 82 families were rehoused from dwellings which had been scheduled
as unfit for human habitation.
The triennial review of the Housing Waiting List was undertaken during the year, and on the
31st December 1958 the number of families still in need of suitable housing accommodation was
2,540.
There has again this year been a marked increase in the demand for the rehousing of elderly
persons, and in recognition of this growing demand the Council have ensured that a proportion of
all new building schemes includes the provision of accommodation suitable for occupation by this
class of applicant.
In accordance with the provisions of the Requisitioned Houses and Housing (Amendment)
Act 1955, the release of requisitioned properties has continued and the Council have negotiated
the purchase of several houses in order to increase the number of permanent dwellings available
for letting.
The assistance afforded in the past by the New and Expanded Towns has continued and
many families have been nominated by the Council for rehousing in those areas. Some indirect
benefit is also derived by reason of the fact that 'key' workers in industries established in the
New Towns are provided with accommodation by Development Corporations and as many of these
persons may have been occupying houses and flats, their removal has released a certain amount of
private accommodation in the Hendon area.
The Council have also supported schemes initiated by private Housing Societies and have
thus been enabled in some instances to nominate housing applicants as tenants for the properties
constructed.
The policy of transferring Council tenants living in accommodation in excess of the requirements
to smaller dwellings has enabled the larger type of houses and flats to be re-let to bigger
families and has relieved many cases of overcrowding. Every opportunity has been taken to cooperate
with other local authorities and private owners to secure exchanges of tenancies which
have been mutually beneficial and records have been maintained for the purpose of effecting suitable
introductions between tenants.
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