By 1900 the problem of the slums in large towns and cities was well understood as was the need for mains water and good sanitation. It's no accident that in the last 20 years of the 19th century Barlick installed mains water, efficient sewers and improved household waste collection. Because of the relative affluence of the town all the new housing built during this period of rapid expansion was very high standard. Look at the houses in the Park Avenue and Gisburn Road areas, they are still very attractive houses.
The worst slums in the large towns and cities were terrible and recognised as such. There was much debate about how to deal with them but not enough incentive to generate positive action. The solution was obvious, build better housing, transfer the slum dwellers into them and demolish the old housing stock making room for better standard houses. As is often the case, it was war that broke the log jam.
During the Great War Woolwich Arsenal in London was vastly expanded and the local council built new housing for the expanded workforce. This is usually regarded as the first example of what became known as 'Council Houses'. The next source of incentive to improve housing conditions was a direct result of the Russian Revolution of 1917. This shocking event in which the lower classes rose in revolt and threw existing monarchy and government out in favour of a republic panicked other European governments, the War Coalition of Lloyd George in particular. By the end of the war in 1918 they were well aware that the mood of the 'Lower Classes' had changed under the influence of death and privations during the war, sympathy with the Russian workers and even the pandemic of 'Spanish Flu' which swept Europe. A new popular movement arose under the banner of 'Homes Fit For Heroes', the general feeling was that there had to be changes and one of the main focusses was decent housing.
Clydeside in Scotland had always been seen as a hotbed of protest and this culminated in January 1919 with a general strike aimed at a 40 hour week for workers. How seriously the government regarded this is best illustrated by the fact they moved troops and even tanks into Glasgow to deal with any possible insurrection. It's no accident that later in 1919 the Lloyd George government passed a Housing Act which gave local authorities subsidies and powers to borrow money in order to build new housing stocks. Standards were set to ensure that they were good quality homes. Known as the 'Addison Act' after Christopher Addison the minister in charge, this act is still seen as one of the best ways of initiating change in the conditions of the poorest slum dwellers and within the limitations of shortages of material and skilled workers was successful, 230,000 new homes were built across the country. It was the first move towards state-provided housing and later the housing stock produced got the name 'Council Houses'.
Tanks in the Gallowgate Cattle Market in 1919.