The Making Of Modern Britain #16: 5 Giants - Squalor Flashcards
Housing problems included:
- overcrowding
- poor quality buildings
- dirty conditions
- lack of modern facilities
When was the New Towns Act?
1946
What did the New Towns Act 1946 allow?
Aimed to build new towns all across Britain, giving new homes to those who were used to slums
What were the rules the New Towns Act was based on?
- populations of around 60,000
- family-style houses
- services like schools and pubs should be available
Where were new towns build in England?
Milton Keynes
5 News towns in Scotland
- Irvine
- Glenrothes
- East Kilbride
- Livingston
Success of New towns
- moved people out of overcrowded city slums and took the to nicer countryside areas
- better housing & improved their health by being less exposed to city pollution
Criticisms of new towns
- few jobs/ industries in new towns
- long journeys to travel to work
When was housing act?
1949
What did the New Housing Act 1949 aim for?
- 200,000 New houses each year with features such as central heating and indoor toilets
- most would be available for rent = affordable for ordinary workers
What were some of these new houses called?
Pre-fabs
What were prefabs?
Homes that could be built quickly using materials such as steel, concrete, and wood
How long were prefabs intended to be used?
As homes for up to 10 years
Successes of prefabs (New Housing 1949)
- quickly built
- reduced overcrowding
- better standard of living than in other homes
- jobs were also created to construct these new homes, reducing unemployment
Ineffectiveness of prefabs (New Housing Act 1949)
- less than the 200,000 per year target, overcrowding continued
- prefabs, intended for use for 10 years, instead used in Scotland until the 1990s
Homelessness in 1951
By the end of the Labour Administration in 1951, there were 750,000 houses few than needed
Issues with housing in London after reforms
Still shortages - families forced to squat
What housing had to be used even after the reforms?
aerodromes had to be used (military housing)
How many New towns built?
12
