Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower & Joe Griffin & Jake Bayliss

Inside pre-fab homes meant to last two decades but still being lived in 70 years later

At the end of the Second World War thousands of prefab homes were thrown up as Britain faced a housing shortage- with several still standing today.

The structures were designed to last no more than two decades using pre-fabricated steel to quickly address the lack of homes caused by German bombardment.

Although some people say it is time the houses are torn down, several are still lived in across the country.

In Lincoln, residents fumed when local councillors suggested the houses be torn down.

In response Lincoln Live were given the opportunity to take a peek inside the not-so-temporary homes.

Pictures of a lounge appear to show a much-loved room which an onlooker would struggle to tell apart from its brick cousins.

A radiator sits beneath a large window, with blinds hiding the outside world. Some may consider the room a little cosy by some standards, but it would be more than comfortable for a small family.

By the well-used front door sits its gas meter as well as hooks enough for several coats- not that they will be used today.

A large corridor has space enough for a humble shoe rack as well as room for several people to move past.

The kitchen, offering views of the rest of the road, is spacious and easily fits a washing machine and dryer, a modern-looking oven as well as a large amount of counter space for preparing meals.

Around 157,000 of the temporary homes were constructed around the country after the war, although not many are still standing.

Councillor Edmund Strengiel from City of Lincoln Council said: “It’s long overdue for pre-fab houses to be knocked down.

“These houses should only have lasted 20 years, although some may still be comfortable and liveable.

“In my hometown, many of these were demolished in the 1970s, and something much better was put in their place. We could have lovely bungalows here.

“I have no doubt people still want to live in them, and I’m not suggesting that anyone

should be forced to move out if they don’t want to. To be fair to the council, money isn’t readily available.

The bathroom has been designed with its older owner in mind (Lincolnshire Live)

"It would probably be a case of taking them down and replacing them one by one. But if the funds are there and the residents are happy, it is time for the council’s housing team to make that decision.”

Prefab resident Sarah Patterson said: "We've spent a lot of money on this place so I'd be mortified if they got rid of them, I don't know what I would do.

“My next-door neighbour is blind and he turned blind in his house so how is he going to cope at his age and learn to move around a new property?”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.