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30
Clauses 15 to 18 deal with the erection of buildings beyond the goneral
line in a similar way to the present law.
Clause 18 provides that the Council may include in the conditions upon
which consent is given to erect a building in advance of the general line one
to the effect that land in front of the building shall be " dedicated to or left
open for the use of the public." This provision is the same as the existing
law (45 Vict., cap. 14, sec. 9), and in a case at Clapliam, in May last, it was
decided that such a condition did not prohibit the construction of a cellar
flap on the land required to be dedicated. The Board then suggested to the
Council that the provision should be strengthened by prohibiting tho construction
of any coal plate, cellar flap, or opening of any kind in the land
given up. The suggested amendment has not however been incorporated in
the Bill. I suggest also that tho word "and" should be substituted for
the word "or" as in the provision quoted above.
Clauses 19 and 20 provide that the consent of the Council to the erection
of a building beyond the general line shall not affect the question of the
general line as existing at the time of such consent; and that where consent
has been given upon condition that land in front shall be given up to
the public, adjoining or neighbouring buildings are not to be brought
forward unless land to the same line be also given np.
These clauses carry into effect the suggestions which the Board made to
the Council on the subject in May last. I suggest, however, the same verbal
alterations as in Clauses 14 and 18.
Clause 21 empowers the Superintending Architect to determine by his
certificate in what street or way a building is situate.
As the existing provisions of the Metropolis Management Acts with regard
to the general line of buildings would be repealed by the Bill, and the part
of such provisions which authorise local authorities to take proceedings in
the matter is not re-enacted, it follows that should the Bill pass in its present
form the Council only will have power to take such proceedings in future.
Local authorities are, however, as at present, to be served with notice of the
Superintending Architect's certificate, and may appeal against the same.
Clauses 22 to 28 deal with the re-naming of streets and re-numbering of
houses.
Clause 29 provides that when a new domestic building is erected, not
fronting upon a public way, an open space not less than 40 feet in width
shall be left in front of the building.
Clause 30 deals with the space to be left at rear of new buildings, and
provides that such space shall, in the case of a domestic building, be free
from any erection above the level of the ground except a water closet, earth
closet, or privy, and a receptacle for ashes and enclosing walls, none of
which erections shall exceed nine feet in height, and in the case of a building
other than a domestic building, the space shall be free from any erection
exceeding 12 feet in height. The clause also provides that the open space
shall extend laterally throughout the entire width of the building, and that
the distance across the open space, from every part of the building to the
boundary of the premises, shall be not less than 10 feet.
Those provisions meet some objections to the present law which have been
frequently brought under the notice of the Board.