Issue 4: The Labour Reforms Housing Reform Lesson starter: 1.What is a council house? 2.What makes it different from other homes?.
Today we will… Describe why housing was so poor after the war Examine how the Labour government dealt the issue of poverty after WWII
I can… Match housing reforms to relevant pictures Answer lower and higher order questions on housing reform
Evil: SQUALOR (poor housing) Houses in Shawbridge Street, Pollokshaws after WWII
Why was postwar housing so bad? Many Brits lived in slums. They were badly built and overcrowded, with poor sanitation 25% of homes had been destroyed during the war – made a severe shortage. No homes had been built in 6 years. Many people were homeless or sharing with relatives and thousands were squatting in old army camps. The Post war ‘baby boom’ made overcrowding worse The responsibility for housing was given to the Ministry of Health.
The Labour Government embarked on two projects; Slum clearances (old and unfit buildings were demolished) House Building (fresh, modern homes were built)
Task One How did the government go about house building? Your teacher will give you a sheet of pictures and one of housing schemes With your partner, match the description to the picture These should then be checked by the classroom checker, then glued into your jotter
Positive Impact of Housing Reform Around 700,000 council houses were built between 1945 and 1951 to provide good quality family accommodation at a reasonable rent. The demolition of city slums and the new council housing estates offered a brighter future for those who lived in them as well as improved health Some of the new towns were very successful 'people friendly' towns, for example East Kilbride.
One problem with New Towns like Cumbernauld is that people have condemned them as ‘ugly’ and ‘eyesores’.
Task Two: What did I learn? 1.Name one new town built under the New Towns Act Explain why the housing situation in Britain was so bad after WWII. 3.Can you envisage any problems that might occur with the housing reforms? Higher order thinking Lower order thinking