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Housing of the Working Classes.
185
pulsory powers of acquisition had been obtained for purposes of the education service; and the
Council also decided that special rehousing schemes were not necessary in respect of the displacement
of 333 persons from certain other properties acquired for similar purposes, there being no
statutory obligation to rehouse these people.
On 12th December, 1911, the Council considered as to the course to be pursued with regard
to the impending displacement of 1,529 persons of the working class from properties, in various parts
of the County, over which compulsory powers of purchase for purposes of the education service were
obtained in the parliamentary session of 1911. By section 3 of the Housing of the Working Classes
Act, 1903, and the schedule thereto, the Council was under obligation, before it could enter into
possession of these premises, to submit to the Local Government Board a scheme for rehousing the
persons of the working classes to be displaced unless the Board should decide that such a scheme was
not necessary. The displacements which called for special consideration were those from the sites
at Nicholas-street, Hoxton (526 persons); Scawfell-street, Haggerston (172 persons); and Ranelaghroad,
Westminster (265 persons). Inquiries were made as to the amount of accommodation suitable
for occupation by persons of the working classes and publicly advertised as to-let in the neighbourhood
of the several sites and, as a result, it was found that in almost every instance the number of vacant
rooms in the vicinity was many times greater than the number of rooms to be demolished on the respective
sites. The Council thought there was little doubt that the families who were to be displaced
would experience little difficulty in finding fresh accommodation within a short distance, and in all the
circumstances, having particular regard to the large amount of accommodation which has been, and
is being, voluntarily provided by the Council under Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes
Act, 1890, it was decided to ask the Local Government Board to release the Council from the rehousing
obligation.
Common
Lodging-
houses.
Action taken
under
Part III. of
the Act of
1890.
The Council has provided three model lodging-houses for men containing altogether 1,856
cubicles, viz.: Parker-street House and Bruce House, Drury-lane, and Carrington House, Deptford.
Although committed to the policy of itself undertaking the erection and management of dwellings
when under specific obligation to secure rehousing accommodation for persons displaced by
clearance and improvement schemes, the Council hesitated for some time to embark on undertakings
involving the provision of accommodation for persons of the working-classes apart from such obligations.
However, on account of the deficiency of such accommodation existing at the time, the Council decided,
on 6th December, 1898, to extend its housing operations by taking action under Part III. of the Housing
of the Working Classes Act, 1890. Since that date the Council has voluntarily provided in various
parts of the County a number of tenement dwellings capable of accommodating 4,068 persons; and,
in addition, it has acquired four suburban estates at Tottenham, Tooting, Norbury and Hammersmith,
comprising nearly 340 acres, upon which cottages are being erected. Up to 31st December, 1911,
2,405 cottages, with accommodation for 17,831 persons, had been completed on these estates, making
a total accommodation for 21,899 persons provided under Part III. of the Act, exclusive of certain
dwellings and lodging houses, which, although erected under Part III., were provided to fulfil statutory
rehousing obligations.
White Hartlane
estate.
During 1909 and 1910 the Council reconsidered its policy in regard to the land which it had
acquired under Part III. The Council having formed the opinion that it held more land
for housing purposes than it was likely to require for some time to come decided on 26th July,
1910, to take steps with a view to the disposal of a substantial proportion of the White Hart-lane
Estate, Tottenham.
This estate consists of two detached sections, of which the northern contains about 49 acres
and is about 440 yards distant from the southern portion which is now in course of development.
The development of the estate has not proceeded so rapidly as was anticipated, and it is evident
that it would not be possible for the Council to build upon the northern portion for many years.
For this reason, and in view of the fact that, meanwhile the rates have to bear the interest and
sinking fund charges on the capital cost of the land, the Council thought it would be well advised to
dispose of the freehold of this portion of the estate with the least possible delay. The main
(southern) section of the estate is about 177 acres in extent, and the Council thought that
it should also endeavour to sell the western portion of the estate, consisting of about 44 acres and
situated almost entirely in the urban district of Wood Green.
In accordance with the resolution passed by the Council on the date mentioned, application
was made to the Local Government Board for its consent to the sale of these two portions of the
estate, and to the proceeds of any such sale being utilised in or towards the development of other
lands under Part III. of the Act of 1890.
In the result the Board, after a public inquiry had been held, gave its consent to the sale of the
northern (detached) section, but the Board considered that sufficient grounds had not been adduced
for the sale of any part of the southern portion of the estate and declined, therefore, to comply
with the Council's application in this respect.
Notwithstanding this decision, the Council was still of opinion that the White Hart-lane
estate was too large for development exclusively for the purposes of Part III. of the Act, The estate
is situated in a district where the working-class population already largely predominates; and the
Council felt that it would be impolitic to cover such a large area with cheap-rented dwellings, and that
it would be to the advantage of the district generally if a substantial proportion of better-class property
could be erected on the land. The estate is suitable for development on the lines of a garden suburb,
which would comprise many different types of houses, including small cottages at a moderate rental and
houses suitable for middle-class occupation. The provisions of the Housing Acts, however, do not
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