(1)The Secretary of State may approve proposals (hereafter in this Part of this Act referred to as " improvement proposals ") submitted to him by a local authority or a development corporation for—
(a)the provision of dwellings by the local authority or development corporation by means of the conversion of houses or other buildings ;
(b)the improvement of dwellings by the local authority or development corporation;
and may, subject to and in accordance with the following provisions of this Part of this Act, make to the local authority or development corporation Exchequer contributions towards—
(i)the cost of the works of conversion or improvement required for carrying out the improvement proposals, and
(ii)any expense incurred by the local authority or development corporation in acquiring interests in land for the purpose of giving effect to the improvement proposals.
(2)Before approving any improvement proposals the Secretary of State shall satisfy himself, as respects dwellings to be provided in accordance with the improvement proposals, that the dwellings will provide satisfactory housing accommodation for a period of not less than thirty years from the completion of the works necessary for the conversion of the buildings in question, and, as respects dwellings to be improved in accordance with the improvement proposals, that the dwellings as so improved will provide such accommodation for a period of not less than thirty years from the completion of the improvements:
Provided that if in relation to all or any of the said dwellings the Secretary of State is of opinion that the said period is likely to be less than thirty years, he may, notwithstanding that fact, approve the improvement proposals if he considers it expedient in all the circumstances to do so and if he is satisfied that the said period is likely to be more than ten years.
(3)The Secretary of State shall also satisfy himself that all dwellings to be provided or improved in accordance with any improvement proposals will conform with such requirements with respect to their construction and physical condition, and the provision of services and amenities, as may be specified for the purposes of this section by the Secretary of State :
Provided that if in relation to all or any of the said dwellings the Secretary of State is not satisfied that the dwellings or dwelling will conform with a particular requirement so specified, he may, notwithstanding that fact, approve the improvement proposals if he is satisfied that, in all the circumstances of the case, conformity with that requirement would not be practicable at a reasonable expense.
(4)No improvement proposals shall be approved by the Secretary of State under section 105 of the [1950 c. 34.] Housing (Scotland) Act 1950 after the commencement of this Act, and any improvement proposals approved by, or submitted to, the Secretary of State under that section on or after 16th August 1964 shall be deemed to have been approved or submitted under this section.
(5)A dwelling which has been provided or improved in giving effect to approved improvement proposals shall not, by reason only of such provision or improvement, be deemed to be a new house within the meaning of any local Act notwithstanding anything contained in such Act.