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93
Building operations have been commenced on the first section of the
scheme, the tender of Messrs. J. W. Falkner & Sons being accepted in the
sum of £11,239 for the erection of a block of twelve flats on the piece of
ground situated between the public library and the schools in Chester Road.
Plans for the development of the remainder of the Estate are now under the
consideration of the Ministry of Health, and when complete will be a
valuable addition in meeting the urgent need for accommodation.
Prince of Wales Road.—The land was purchased in 1906 for library
purposes at a cost of £13,500. The library scheme was not proceeded with,
and on the 7th July, 1914, the Local Government Board gave their consent
under the Public Libraries Act, 1892, and the London Government Act,
1899, to the alienation by way of absolute sale of the land. Having regard
to the need for additional housing accommodation, and to the difficulty of
obtaining suitable sites in the Borough, the Council agreed on the 22nd
January, 1919, to the land being utilised for housing purposes. The Ministry
of Health were informed of the Council's proposal, and on the 16th April,
1919, agreed to a limited competition for designs. On the 13th August,
1919, the Ministry consented to the appropriation of the site for housing
purposes under Section 57 (3) of the Housing of the Working Classes Act,
1890.
On the 5th January, 1920, the London Housing Board approved the plans
for the erection of a block of 64 self-contained flats comprising 25 four rooms,
34 three rooms, and 5 two rooms. Tenders were invited, and after considerable
negotiations with the Ministry, the tender of Messrs. Chessums,
Ltd,, was accepted in the sum of £76,001 14s. Od. The contract was signed
on the 23rd June, 1920, and building operations are in progress.
Leighton Road.—On the 14th August, 1919, the approval of the London
Housing Board was requested to the acquisition of certain property in
Leighton Road for housing purposes, and sketch plans were submitted
showing how the site could be developed.
The complete scheme for dealing with this site, comprising 1.35 acres,
provided for the erection of eight blocks of four room flats, each four stories
high, accommodating 64 families in all, but in order to avoid displacement
and to reduce the compensation, the Committee suggested the erection of four
blocks, comprising 32 flats, on the back portion of the site, leaving the
frontage land to be dealt with later. The Architect's estimate for the first
scheme was £32,331, and for the complete scheme £61,000, exclusive in both
cases of the cost of land.
On the 12th December, the Housing Board approved of the scheme
proceeding on these lines in view of the fact that no de-housing would be
involved, and the District Valuer was requested to negotiate for the purchase
of the freehold interests in the entire property, and such leasehold interests as
would be affected by the first portion of the scheme. Correspondence
subsequently took place with the Ministry of Health, and in a let er dated
1st April, 1920, they stated that on the information before them they would
not be justified in approving the scheme. The proposal was therefore dropped.