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In accordance with the Council's decision to assume responsibility for the
slum clearance of the various occupied and unoccupied houses remaining in the
area, the Health Committee considered representations made by me under Part III
of the Housing Act, 1936, in respect of 33 properties, as follows:—
Area No. Properties
1. Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, Warren Lane and Nos. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
and 27, Ropeyard Rails.
2. Nos. 74, 75, 76 and 77, Woolwich High Street.
3. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Ropeyard Rails.
4. Nos. 75, 76, 77 and 78, Beresford Street.
5. Nos. 52, 53 and 54, Beresford Street.
6. Nos. 60, 61, 62, 62a and 62b, Beresford Street.
This area is generally the worst housing area in the Borough, most of it being
represented in 1939 by the County Council and the work of clearance having been
abandoned owing to the outbreak of war. A number of properties in the Ropeyard
Rails area had been previously represented to the Health Committee and had been
the subject of Demolition Orders, and a certain number had already been cleared
under war damage. The County Council has agreed to the Council's proposal
that the proposed Clearance Areas should be dealt with by the Borough Council.
The County Council has stated that they are prepared to assist in the rehousing of
the occupants of the existing houses, upon the understanding that any accommodation
granted should be regarded as a loan which the Borough Council would repay
by an exchange of nominations at a later date.
The Council approved my representations of these six Clearance Areas and
decided to proceed with the clearance of these areas by the compulsory purchase of
these lands, and of certain surrounding land so far as may be necessary.
Housing Progress
The number of new houses built in the Borough during 1952 is summarised
as follows:—
By Woolwich Borough Council 286
By private enterprise 66
In addition, 39 flats and two houses were erected by the London County
Council on their Avery Hill Estate, and 24 flats at Campbell House, Shooters Hill.
Apart from the erection of houses and flats by the County Council, at the end
of the year schemes were in hand for the erection of a further 220 dwellings by
the Borough Council.
Number of applications on Register at 1st January, 1952 5,485
Number of applications received during year 1,465
6,950
Number of applicants rehoused during year:—
(1) By Borough Council 356
(2) By nomination to L.C.C. 8
(3) Direct by L.C.C. 115
479
6,471
Number of applications cancelled or withdrawn (applicants
moved, found own accommodation, etc.) ... 1,356
Number of applicants on " live " Register at 31st Dec., 1952 ... 5,115
28