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156
Site Values of Insanitary Areas.
On February 5th, 1903 the Council decided to support the
St. Pancras Borough Council and to petition Parliament praying
that the Metropolitan Borough Councils shall be either relieved
of the obligation to use particular sites of cleared insanitary
areas for re-housing schemes, or that the difference between the
market and the housing values of such sites may be repaid out
of Imperial Funds. This is a much needed reform, as at
present under demolition schemes a cleared site has to be paid
for by a Local Authority out of all proportion to its real
(market) value, having regard to the fact that such site was
formerly occupied by slum property and is only to be used for
the erection thereon of Workmen's Dwellings.
Housing of the Working Classes Act 1903.
The Housing of the Working Classes Act 1903 (passed
August 14th) introduces important amendments, e.g. (1) extension
to 60 and 80 years of the maximum period for the repayment
of loans in connection with (a) erection of buildings and (b)
purchase of freehold land respectively; (2) simplification of
procedure for obtaining a Closing Order by rendering it
unnecessary to serve a Notice on the owner requiring him to
abate the nuisance; (3) transference of certain housing work
from the Home Office to the Local Government Board by special
Order in Council; (4) provision for re-housing displaced persons,
whether displaced at the time or 5 years previously by the
clearance of an insanitary area by a Local Authority, or by street
improvements, and by Companies acting under compulsory
powers ; etc.
Alterations in the Inner Wards due to
Railway Extensions.
Marked changes are still taking place in the Inner Wards in
connection with the further extensions of the London and South
Western Railway (compulsory powers obtained under Private