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40.
HOUSING.
Individual dwellings - Clearance Areas:
The Council's Housing Redevelopment programme is based upon Compulsory
Purchase Orders confirmed under Part 5 of the Housing Act 1957, and
Shoreditch like other London Boroughs is rapidly using up available sites
for redevelopment. At the same time as redevelopment takes place the worst
of the slums are disappearing, leaving dwellings which still have a considerable
amount of useful life if properly repaired and maintained.
Economically therefore, there can be no doubt that there is a great deal
to be said for the repair and improvement of these existing dwellings. Not
only is it economical but it has an important social bearing on the community
for those who prefer a house to a flat and for the aged where only too often
it is distressing both to the individual and to those who care for them to
see tham uprooted in their old age.
To make full use of existing dwellings (a) repair may be enforced under
Section 9 - Housing Act 1957.
(b) Improvement may be effected by the owner by means of obtaining an
Improvement Grant or Standard Grant from the Local Authority. Unfortunately,
there is no force of Law requiring these Improvements to be obligatory and
the response of owners in this direction has been disappointing.
It is therefore suggested that Section 9 should be employed in securing
repairs to dwellings, and wide publicity should be made of the economical
advantages to owners (and also occupiers) of the facilities available
concerning Improvement and Standard Grants available to owners through the
Council.
Whilst the importance of the regular routine inspection of privately
owned dwellings is fully recognised, the Council's Policy of redevelopment
(Compulsory Purchase Orders under Part 5, Housing Act 1957) has diverted a
great deal of the Public Health Inspectors; time to the tracing and abolition
of disused drains on Clearance Area sites and the supervision and design of
drainage and plumbing works on newly developed sites. A vast increase in
responsibility and volume of work is involved.
As some indication of the work involved during 1960:-
No Clearance Areas were resolved.
9 Compulsory Purchase Orders were confirmed involving 485 premises.
166 Premises were demolished.
241 new flats were completed.
457 new flats were in course of erection.
109 routine inspections under Section 3, Housing Act 1957
23 Notices were served (Public Health (London) Act 1936) following upon
Section 3 inspections.
Section 9 Notices served.