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to be erected, resolved to obtain permission to modify the scheme by reducing the number to be rehoused
to 300 so as to allow of the erection of such dwellings. The Local Government Board held a
local inquiry and subsequently decided to modify the scheme so that 272 persons should be housed in
cottages on the area and 278 in the neighbourhood. The Committee could not find land for this
purpose and the Committee therefore instructed the officers to report how the original number could be
housed on the site. The architect had, therefore, prepared plans for a men's lodging-house, similar to
those erected by Lord Rowton. The Committee had had an interview with Lord Rowton and Sir
Richard Farrant, and as a result were satisfied that the site was suitable for the purpose. The
Council therefore, on the Committee's recommendation, resolved not to act further upon their direction
that application should be made to the Local Government Board for reduction of the number of persons
to be housed on the site, from 550 to 300, but that plans for a men's lodging-houses on the lines of
Rowton houses should be proceeded with, the charge to be 6d. per bed per night.
Schemes undertaken by district authorities under Part II. of the Act to the cost of which the
Council contributed.
Moira-place and Plumber t-place, Shoreditch—A proposal of the Vestry of Shorediteh for a
modification of the scheme by which the vestry would house an additional 72 persons was approved
by the Council.
Norfolk-square, Islington—The scheme for this area provided for the provision of accommodation
for 102 persons on the site. In 1896 the Vestry of Islington being of opinion that there was vacant
accommodation for this number of persons in the vicinity of the area proposed to devote the site to an
open space, but the Local Government Board declined to permit this modification unless provision was
made on another site for the number of persons displaced by the scheme. The vestry were unable to
find a site for this purpose, ard proposed therefore to apply for a modification of the scheme which
would enable them to provide for 72 persons on the area, and to devote the rest of it to open space.
The Council were of opinion that in view of the dearth of accommodation the whole site should be
devoted to housing, and the vestry therefore in 1899 made a proposal, with which the Council agreed,
that the whole area should be devoted to the erection of a four-storey building which would house
192 persons.
Chapel-grove and Eastnnr-place, St. Pancras—An inquiry was held by the Local Government
Board as to the sufficiency of these schemes at which the officers of the Council gave evidence to the
effect that the two schemes should be amalgamated, that a proposed road on the Chapel-grove site
should not be made; that the whole of this site should be reserved for the erection of artizans'
dwellings, and that the Eastnor-place area might be devoted to commercial purposes. This view was
adopted by the Local Government Board.
Sites acquired under Part III. of the Act.
Millbank, Westminster—The erection of buildings on this area was continued. Hogarthbuildings,
erected at an estimated cost of £14,018 for 306 persons, came into occupation during the
year, and the erection of the following buildings was begun—Leigh ton, estimated cost £6,190 for
120 persons; Millais, estimated cost £6,190 for 120 persons; Turner, estimated cost £23,210 for
430 persons; Ruskin, estimated cost £23,210 for 430 persons; Romney, estimated cost £13,965 for
290 persons ; Rossetti, estimated cost £13,965 for 290 persons.
Borough-road—The erection of buildings at an estimated cost of £24,395 for 400 persons
was begun.
The Housing Committee made enquiry for sites in and about London for the erection of
artizans' dwellings, and reported in February that 30 sites had been found, but only on very few of
those which are accessible from Central London would it be possible for the Council to build
without a charge upon the rates. Upon these the Committee proposed to report later.
An offer to the Council by Sir Samuel Montagu, Bart., M.P., of a gift of 25 acres in Edmonton
for the erection of working-class dwellings could not at the time be accepted, as the Council were
advised they had no power to proceed under Part III. of the Act outside London. The Council therefore
resolved to seek amendment of the law to relieve them of this disability. The necessary power
has since been obtained.
Size of rooms.
A deputation of the Housing Committee waited on the Home Secretary in July on the subject
of the size of rooms in artizans' dwellings erected by the Council. The decision of the Secretary of
State is shown in the following report which the Committee presented to the Council—
In providing accommodation for persons displaced by carrying into effect schemes under the Housing
of the Working Classes Act, 1890, or in connection with street improvements, it has always been the
practice of the Council and the Home Office to reckon each room as being sufficient for two persons.
Recently, however, the Secretary of State informed us that he felt bound to reconsider this basis in view
of the fact that a return issued in 1898 showed that each room in the Council's dwellings accommodated
on an average 1'6 persons. At the same time the question of the size of the rooms was raised, as in
some cases plans had been submitted to the Secretary of State, showing tenements having living rooms
of less than 134 square feet of floor space, though in these cases the size of the bedrooms had been
correspondingly increased. As these two questions appeared to us to be of great importance,
we attended at the Home Office by deputation, and explained our views fully to Sir Kenelm Digby. The
Secretary of State has now replied officially to the deputation, promising to accept a minimum size
of rooms of 144 square feet for living, and 96 square feet for bedrooms, with the further understanding
that minute deviations from the minimum, especially in the case of three-room tenements,
which may be rendered necessary by the plan of a building or the configuration of the site upon which
it is placed will not be noticed. As regards the number of persons to be deemed to be accommodated,
after hearing our arguments, and in view of the Council's resolution of 29th November, 1898, that
housing accommodation should in all cases be provided for a number of persons equal to that of the
working classes displaced, the Secretary of State has intimated that he is prepared to continue the
basis of two persons per room heretofore in force. We report the facts for the information of the
Council.