Building a community
Sir: We were delighted when you commissioned Messrs Donnison, Pilcher and Waddilove to write on housing (29 December), and again now to find Neil Wates—in the `Business view- point' column—writing on his philosophy of housing (22 March). It is timely that debate on these matters should take place, because it is, we think, now generally accepted that between the years 1960 and 2000 building activities throughout the world will provide in these four decades more building than in the entire pre- vious history of man.
With the large-scale activities of Wates Limited, their turnover running into tens of millions a year, one would expect them to em- phasise the business element, but unless it is possible for such giants to reach forward-look- ing conclusions in their philosophy we are doomed to a steady deterioration of the built environment. If anyone has doubts about the problem, let him consider what he should show visitors from abroad as our national achieve- ments in the housing field since the passing of the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act.
To return to the details of Mr Wates's article. He seems confused by, on the one hand, setting up a set of criteria to assist him in sell- ing, and then, on the other, shying off the con- clusion that the forms which are produced should be treated as a community. For our part, we believe fervently that it is a provision of a designed environment, with finite size, detailed as the framework for the growth of a social struoture, which forms the basis on which pro- gress will be made. We are advocates of the desirability of propagating communities, and our company's activities are direoted to that end. Certainly our early experience of the first of these solutions here at New Ash Green has been one of tremendous encouragement. People want a sense of identity with a place, and it is this desire—the territorial imperative—which is not satisfied by the suburban sprawl and seep- age which appears to be the solution advocated by Mr Wates.
Just as the eighteenth century landowner directed his energies to producing a `classical' solution for his country seat, and then carried the same forn)ality into the `joint' solution of the squares and terraces for his town house, so we must provide the same comprehension and completeness for our present-day client—the man who wants dignity and congruity within a community. He may not be able to choose the whole content of the set-up: part will be fortuitous, but the larger element can be pro- vided; the structures and their form and rela- tionship, the contours and the realisation of the existing and enhanced land space.
There is a tragic lack of awareness of these problems both at the Ministry of Housing and at county council levels. The SPECTATOR would be doing a great service if it continued to pro- mote the editorial dialogue by which influential bodies could be educated.
Leslie Bilsby Joint Managing Director, Span Kent Ltd, New Ash Green, Dartford, Kent
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