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26
Other Housing Accommodation Available: —
A. Requisitioned and sundry properties 168
B. Temporary buildings, Arcon bungalows 345
C. Hutments, 320 originally, now reduced to 87
Therefore, total number of properties used for
housing by the Mitcham Borough Council is 4,344
Number of People Rehoused
About 10,100 applicants have registered since 1945, and the
current list is still about 1,300, so that some 8,800 applicants have
been dealt with.
Housing Situation
The outlook is rather grim as regards new housing. Very few
houses could be built in 1957 as there is no available land in Mitcham
with the exception of the projected scheme for the Phipps Bridge
area some time in the future, and isolated sites that become vacant.
The few slum clearance areas serve in turn to rehouse those who
are displaced.
The Council have been forced to go outside Mitcham in their
search for building space.
In a joint scheme at Banstead, 232 dwellings were constructed
for Mitcham Corporation.
Mitcham is also to participate in a scheme at Frimley and
Camberley to the extent of 250 dwellings.
Slum Clearance
During the year the re-development was begun of the three sites,
two in High Street, Colliers Wood, and one in Bailey Road, which were
scheduled for slum clearance under the Housing Act, 1936, and the
Housing Rents & Repairs Act, 1954, and acquired by Compulsory
Purchase Orders in 1956. By the end of the year dwelling-houses
were being erected.
Two further areas were made the subject of Compulsory Purchase
Orders in 1957 comprising 29 houses in all.
Apart from the above, under section 17 of the Housing Act,
1957, demolition orders were made in respect of two houses and one
cottage was made the subject of a closing order.