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17
With regard to the question of clearance areas, improvement
areas and the demolition and repair of individual
houses, it must be stated that Kingston-upon-Thames
generally is not too greatly affected by so many of the
provisions of the Act as relate to unsatisfactory housing.
As will be seen from the particulars inserted in the form
below, it is considered that there are no areas in Kingstonupon-Thames
which could during the course of the next
five years be treated as clearance areas. The nature of a
large proportion of the property in Kingston is, it is true,
of the working-class type, but such property is arranged
in rows of good average width generally, and the houses
are for the most part constructed in pairs, or, at any rate,
in small blocks, and so many of the provisions of this Act
as relate to the making of improvement areas consequent
on the opening up thereof, do not generally apply to this
district.
However, as will be seen below, it is the intention of
the Corporation to deal under the Act with certain areas in
the Borough as improvement areas, and it is intended that
a general survey of the whole of the town will be made
during the next five years, and advantage in every possible
respect taken of the provisions of the Act to obtain satisfactory
housing accommodation for the inhabitants of the
Borough.
FORM OF QUINQUENNIAL STATEMENT.
Name of local authority—Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-
Thames.
Population (estimated figure for middle of 1929) 38,420
Number of inhabitated houses (according to rate
books) 8„732
A. Estimated production of houses by the local authority
during the next five years approximately 509
B. Estimated production of new1
houses of working-class type
by private enterprise during the
next five years—
(i) with subsidy under the
Act of 1924
(ii) under arrangements made
under Section 29 of the
Act of 1930
(iii) otherwise
Practically nil, having
regard to the fact
that there is no suitable
land available
upon which to construct
houses of the
type contemplated by
the Act.