View report page

198
THE HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
In my Annual Report for 1890, I dealt with the new
legislation, by which the Acts relating to the housing of the
working classes had been consolidated and amended, by the
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, and gave a detailed
account of the action of the London County Council in
connection with The Boundary Street Scheme, for
acquiring an " unhealthy area" in Bethnal Green, fifteen
acres in extent, at a net estimated cost, for the land and
laying-out of new streets, of £300,000, or £20,000 per acre, a
sum equal to fifty guineas for each person resident in the area ;
and this not to provide the people with dwellings, but only to
clear the land on which improved dwellings will be built for
letting at current rates. The Council determined to deal
with the area in sections, so as not to displace the population
(some 5,719 in number) too rapidly. In my last report I
stated that much had already been done to give effect to the
scheme, by settlement of claims for property, by arrangements
for arbitration where agreement could not be arrived
at, and by compensation to the evicted tenants for cost of
removal, &c.; and it was also stated, on the authority of the
Public Health and Housing Committee, that " the gross cost
of the scheme would be considerably less than the estimate."
In March 1893, the Committee announced that the acquisition
of the several properties within the area would soon be completed.
An amended plan for laying out the area has since
then been adopted. It consists of a system of radiating streets
from a central open space which is to be laid out as an ornamental
garden. The whole work is to be carried out in five
sections. The Council will by their own Works Department
erect the houses which are to be of four of five storeys. The
roadways and sewers are about to be put in hand, at a cost of
some £59,000. Asphalte is to be used for the roads, on
hygienic grounds. The number of persons to be provided for
has been reduced to 4,700. It is still expected that the net cost