Order in Reconstruction
Though the annnuncement of the War Damage Commission which has just been issued to local authorities is concerned solely with the making of payments in respect of war damage, its object is to ensure that rebuilding by private owners will not conflict with post-war planning schemes. Unless some restrictive measures are taken, there is an obvious danger that owners may hurriedly start reconstruction without refer- ence to the planned scheme of re-development in their locality. Such haphazard re-building might upset the whole planning of an area. The Commission has powers to impose conditions in the public interest before making payments to claimants. Accordingly, in certain areas it will require that claimants in respect of property of a certain value should submit particulars of the works which they propose to execute, whether for restoration only or complete rebuilding. In some cases it may be decided that it is inadvisable to repair a partially damaged building, and then a larger payment—a -" value payment"- may be made to enable complete rebuilding to be undertaker The Commission itself, of course, has nothing to do with the making of the plans. It merely steps in, as the -authority which pays, to ensure that those who are paid will rebuild in con- formity with the general scheme.
Previous page
