STANDARDISED HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 84, 2 January 1918, Page 6

STANDARDISED HOUSES

150,000 TO 200,000 TO BE BUILT IN BRITAIN ;:d ' GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY The British Government recently decided that the new national housing scheme shall be directed by the Local Government Board. The returns already received from the city, borough, town, and district councils throughout tho country show that about 100,000 now workmen's dwellings are urgently required, but it can be stated that from 150,000 to 200,000 will bo erected to meet the after-war conditions. It. was stated at tho Local Government Board recently that the Government would be asked to grant a subsidy ol several million pounds for the purpose. Tho type and size of the houses will vary according to the district in which they are built, but all the parts will bo standardised, from tho bricks to window fittings.. In every possible case gardens will be provided, the cultivation of which will be of national value in the years of food shortage which will follow the war. Local authorities are being urged to adopt a standard system of planning with not more than twelve houses to the acre. It is suggested that arterial roads bo 100 ft. wide, shopping or . secondary roads not moro than 50ft., and residential roads from 36ft. to 40ft. Interviewed, Mr. Henry R. Aldridge, secretary of the National Housing and Town Planning Council, said that up to now workmen's houses had boon turned out like cottage loaves. All this was to do altered. Tho house of tho labourer could b'e just as artistically designed as that of the rich man. No moro brick boxes must bo erected. What was wanted was healthy garden cottages, with moro air and window space. Land could bo" bought near Birmingham, Manchester, and Sheffield I for less than £200 an aero, and it was wrong, therefore, that local authorities should in some cases bo paying as much as' £1000 per acre.