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Housing.
During the year many of the dwellings erected by the
Council on the Latchmere Estate were opened for occupation.
Under the London County Council (General Powers) Act
of 1900 the late Vestry were enabled to erect artisans' dwellings
on the Latchmere Allotments, and the Council in that year
having adopted Part 111. of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act, 1890, steps were taken to prepare a housing
scheme. In 1901 the Council advertised for competitive
designs, offering premiums for the three best sets of designs
received. Mr. Blashill, formerly Superintending Architect to
the London County Council, was appointed to assist the
Housing Committee in selecting the designs, and as no less
than fifty-eight sets of designs were sent in four extra prizes
were awarded. The scheme finally adopted was to some
extent based on the successful designs.
The question was considered as to whether the schemes
should include two or three storey dwellings or consist wholly
of dwellings of two storeys, and the latter alternative was finally
adopted. Each dwelling is self-contained with its front door
opening on the street; there is no common staircase on the
Estate. Each dwelling is wired for electric light, provided
with blinds, shelves, combined food cupboard and dresser, and
patent combined kitchen range, copper and bath, and each
has a garden at the back, accessible from the upper floor by
means of a staircase.
There are 315 dwellings on the Estate as follows:—
28 five-roomed houses with scullery, rent 11s. 6d. per week.
70 houses each containing two tenements of three rooms
and scullery, rent 7s. 6d. per week per tenement.