Centenary booklet celebrates 200 years of council housing in Eastbourne

Langney Green looking down Saxby Close to Priory Road and then over to Pevensey Bay Road to The Crumbles SUS-201105-124816001 | User (UGC)

A 24-page booklet has been compiled by Eastbourne council to celebrate the centenary of the Addison Act, which started large scale building of social housing in the UK.

The booklet tells how Dr Christopher Addison recognised that good quality housing had a direct link to health and wellbeing. As a result, he guided the Housing and Town Planning Act through Parliament, paving the way for funding to councils to build 500,000 homes over three years.

Also included in the publication are residents’ personal memories of housing in Eastbourne from years past, views on how it has changed and stories of its significance in people’s lives.

The booklet showcases an array of old photographs illustrating the developments in local housing including prefabs built in Hampden Park and the development of Langney.

There were 30 prefabs in Hampden Park on Wadhurst Close. There was also a large estate of 140 prefabs at Bodiam Crescent, Cade and Iden Streetrs, Othanm Road and The Hydneye. They were built after World War 2 as part of the Temporary Housing and Emergency Factory Made Homes programme. SUS-201105-124520001 | User (UGC)

In addition, it contains an article about The Addison, the first development of new council properties completed through Aspiration Homes - a partnership between Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council.

The council’s cabinet member for housing at Eastbourne, said, “I’m delighted we are celebrating 100 years since Addison’s watershed legislation with this first-class booklet which I’m sure our tenants will enjoy reading.

“Through Aspiration Homes, it is fantastic to see the realisation of our joint vision with Lewes to increase the supply of affordable homes locally.”

The booklet is available to download at lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/_resources/assets/inline/full/0/288740.pdf

Eastbourne's Marsden Road area in 1955 SUS-201105-124836001 | User (UGC)

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