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32
SECTION IV.
HOUSING.
1. General Housing Conditions in the Area.—The
housing problem in the area is one of serious import. Chiswick
has exceptional difficulties in this matter by reason of its
limited area, its large population and the fact that practically
all its available building land is fully developed. There is
undoubtedly a shortage of housing accommodation, particularly
houses suitable for the artizan classes. The Council are,
I know, fully alive to this shortage, and have been in
negotiations with the Ministry of Health in respect to the
matter. Further, they have proposals for the utilization and
conversion of the old Glebe Street Schools into flats. The
high cost of materials and labour undoubtedly have a serious
bearing and a retarding influence on the possible erection of
houses or flats that can be let at a rent which is both economic
and also compatible with the wages of the ordinary working
man. Further, the provision of more houses for the artizan
population will not of itself solve many of our difficulties
connected with health and cleanliness, for pari passu with
this building there must be the demolition of certain of the
worst dwelling-houses in the district on the site of which
sanitary and up-to-date buildings can be erected. In Chiswick
with its limited available building space, this is a difficult
problem, and the schemes in hand will have little or no effect
on the real serious situation unless the new buildings are used
to empty some of the undesirable houses mentioned above,
so that they may be pulled down, and thereby be created
other building sites.
In spite of these difficulties, however, one cannot urge
too strongly that the Council will proceed with as little delay
as possible, to take all practicable and available steps to mitigate
the present position.
During the period under review, there have been no
important changes in population, as the housing situation
has practically remained stationary during that time. The