HOUSING SCHEMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22647, 8 February 1937, Page 6

HOUSING SCHEMES

LIVERPOOL PEOJECTS STUDY BY HON. W. NASH CORPORATION ACTIVITIES [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Jan. 16 Information of value upon the finance, administration, architecture and construction in municipal housing schemes has been gained by the Minister of Finance and Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, as a result of his visit to Liverpool last week. In the past 36 years the Liverpool Corporation has erected more than 33,000 houses, flats and shops. In Liverpool slum clearance has been a problem since 1869. Until the war the corporation had' erected 2895 flats and houses for the clearance of slum areas, and since the war over 4.000 have been constructed for a similar purpose. In addition, it has erected nearly 26,000 flats and houses as part of a large scheme of municipal housing with low rentals. Twelve per cent of the city's population of 900,000 live in these buildings. Purchases of Land Notwithstanding all this activity, the corporation has still a list of about 24,000 applicants for either flats or houses that it has not yet been able to satisfy. The Liverpool housing scheme has probably been established the longest and is one of the most successful in tho world. The director of the housing department is Mr. L. H. Keay, a wellknown authority upon the subject whose services have been sought at various times by both the United States and Canada. The chief architect is Mr. L. C. Hewitt. With both Mr. Nash had long conferences. The estates upon which the flats and houses have been constructed are all situated in good parts of the citv's suburbs, and the fact that the director has a long range programme has enabled him to make his land purchases aihead of requirements. Most of the land is purchased by negotiation, and this has been a fairly successful method. The valuation of the district valuer is the limiting factor in the possible exploitation of the public. There is also always present the possibility of compulsory powers being used to acquire land, so that sellers are generally found to be reasonable. Low Contract Prices Somewhat the same principle applies in the construction of the flats or houses. These are generally built by contract, but the contractors know that the director of housing, is likely to put in a contract himself, and as the housing department can build houses more cheaply—it need make no profits—its influence is to keep prices low. The services of the private contractor are needed because of tho amount of work to be done. In planning the Liverpool housing estates, full attention is given to fresh air, sun, layout, communal facilities, and beauty. While an effort is made to build as many houses as possible, in some parts flats are the only method of solving the housing problem. By these means greater facilities can be provided for Tecreational purposes, while retaining the same density of population. The houses are not of the bungalow type, owing to additional costs, but consist mostly of well-designed blocks of two, three, four or six. All the houses or flats have a larder, bath, hot-water system, electric light, power plugs, gas points and gas-lieated wash boilers. In the layout of the estates the street is made to feel a unity by arranging the design so that the buildings at the end form natural and inevitable boundaries. In the buildings uniformity and beauty are gained without monotony. Special Shopping Centres When planning the estates thousands of houses are involved, so that in effect it becomes community planning. Shopping centres are arranged, school and church sites, and recreation areas set aside, libraries, community halls and theatres built. The Liverpool Corporation in letting the houses or shops—they are not sold —-does not allow posters, placards, or hoardings, nor can shop fronts be disfigured. Each shopkeeper must keep his name and trade to a .uniform size and type when placed on the shop front. It /Was on the Dovecot Estate that provision was first made for elderly people, particularly old-age pensioners. Here, 34 cottage flats were erected, each consisting of a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. The rents for these are as low as 5s 3d a week. 1> : Raising the .Money 'The money required .for the purchase of land and building has been raised by tho Liverpool Corporation at 3 per cent on the security of the city's rates, and housing costs have been kept down by the standardisation of certain materials and equipment. The result is low rents. For example, a house with three bedrooms varies from 8s 4d to 12s lOd a week inclusive of rates. With a sitting room in addition, the rent rises to 15s lid a week. Other rents are in proportion.