London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Waltham Forest 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Waltham Forest]
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Redevelopment and improvement programmes are influenced by the future life of property.
The following table shows the life of dwellings in the borough as estimated by the surveyors.
Table 6 - Expected Life of Dwellings
| AREA | EXPECTED LIFE IN YEARS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 OR L ESS | 8 - 15 | 16 - 28 | 29 OR MORE | ALL PERIODS | ||||||
| % | NO. | % | NO. | % | NO. | % | NO. | % | NO. | |
| Chingford | 3 | _ | 1 | (125) | 11 | (1,625) | 88 | (12,925) | 100 | (14,675) |
| N. W'stow | - | (25) | 3 | (462) | 16 | (2,825) | 81 | (13,938) | 100 | (17,250) |
| S. W'stow | 3 | (600) | 13 | (2,263) | 30 | (5,437) | 54 | (9,837) | 100 | (18,137) |
| Leyton | 5 | (1,337) | 11 | (3,062) | 35 | (8,738) | 49 | (13,838) | 100 | (27,975) |
| Total | 3 | (1,962) | 8 | (5,912) | 25 | (19,625) | 64 | (50,538) | 100 | (78,037) |
This suggests that in respect of nearly 8,000 dwellings a decision will be needed within
the next fifteen years as to whether demolition or improvement is indicated. This would still leave
another 20,000 to deal with in the following 10 years. It is questionable how much weight can be
placed on these estimates of future life, but the figures are broadly consistent with the age of
dwellings assuming a life of 100 years.
The table shows a serious situation in the southern part of the borough. In Leyton over
half the dwellings have an expected life of no more than 25 years and in Cann Hall Ward this
applies to over three quarters of the dwellings. In Walthamstow, south of Forest Road, nearly half
the dwellings have an expected life of 25 years or less. In the northern half of Waltham Forest less
than a quarter of the dwellings have a life as short as 25 years or less.
FACILITIES IN DWELLINGS
The age of the dwellings is also reflected in the provision of baths and W.C.'s as the following tables show.
Table 7(a) - Availability of Baths
| AREA | WITH BATH | •VI THOUT BATH | ALL DWELLINGS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | NO. | % | NO. | % | NO. | |
| Chingford | 99 | (14,525) | 1 | (150) | 100 | (14,675) |
| N. W'stow | 88 | (15,212) | 12 | (2,038) | 100 | (17,250) |
| S. W'stow | 74 | (13,324) | 26 | (4,813) | 100 | (18,137) |
| Leyton | 70 | (19,563) | 30 | (8,412) | 100 | (27,975) |
| Total | 80 | (62,624) | 20 | (15,413) | 100 | (78,037) |
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