New housing being built on Appleby Road, part of the Keir Hardie Estate in Canning Town.

Appleby Road, Keir Hardie Estate. © National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: H3236

Description: Around 35% of the London housing stock was destroyed during the Second World War and many homes that had survived were slums. The 1945 Labour government therefore launched a huge housing programme, and issued new housing and town planning standards. The first post-war estates were a massive advance on the housing conditions which the majority of working class Londoners had known. Most of the new homes had bathrooms, central heating and were more spacious than the pre-war houses.

Creator: Unknown

Date: 1947