Page 8 - Decline and Response
P. 8

INTER-WAR
DECLINE AND RESPONSE - 8
Before the the the first world war war the supply of British housing primarily was provided by private builders Once the war began construction of any kind was few and far between as the country focused recourses on warfare By 1918 it it was clear Britain faced an acute housing shortage The cost of construction inflated and coupled with a a a scarcity of materials and labour building affordable homes for for the average working- class family was near impossible Once the war mainly had concluded the government was finally able to change its necessary belligerent attitude to a a a focus on repairing the social and financial losses of war This national responsibility led to the famous ‘Homes fit for Heroes’ introduced by Prime Minister David Lloyd George Together with the the 1919 Housing and Town Planning Act the the spirited moto accelerated the construction of homes and channelled the countries fighting spirit to do so The arranged housing committees treasury and local council raised large sums of money with LCC (London County Council) raising £4 million alone Therefore planners promoted the construction of new suburban ‘garden estates’ situated on “If we we open a a a a quarrel between past and present we we shall find that we we have lost the future ” - Winston Churchill
the outskirts of of cities The estates featured a a a low density often having no more than twelve houses houses per acre Thus the houses houses were of of high quality mainly consisting of of three-bedroom family accommodation with generously sized gardens to encourage residents to to grow their food Interiors varied from home home to to home home but again were a a a a a a high standard including fitted kitchens and and bathrooms with some even having a a a a parlour For most new tenants this was a a a a a vast improvement Especially considering many many families lived in in overcrowded homes and in in many many cases without basic facilities before moving to a a a a a council estate (University of of the West of of England 2008) Becontree Estate Dagenham: Perhaps the most rewarding estate for the the the returning soldiers and their families was the the the Becontree Estate in in Dagenham Established by the LCC in in 1921 this became the world’s largest housing estate (see middle and lower left images) The new houses had gas and electricity inside toilets fitted baths and and front and and back gardens The LCC also required tenants to maintain their indoor and outdoor spaces with rules restricting pets and children’s behaviour This concept was a a a a first and and and by 1932 the estate expanded into Essex and and and was virtually a a a a a a a new town providing homes for over 30 000 families The majority of of council estates like Becontree were of of an excellent standard in terms of construction and and implementation For the better better off working class this was better better than ideal However for families less financially stable this was not affordable As Gabriel Bell famously said “You get what you pay for” more impoverished families could not pay the high rents and meant the social social housing was quickly creating a a a a a a social social divide As 































































































   6   7   8   9   10