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40
World's End Passage Improvement Scheme, 1927, is referred to elsewhere.
Of the remaining schemes prepared and submitted to the
Ministry, three have fortunately materialised, approval of the others
not being obtained on the ground that the cost of the land was much
higher than the price the Ministry could sanction for the purchase of
land to be used for the erection of buildings to house the working classes.
Two schemes—those of Hortensia Road and King's Road—were completed
in 1925 and 1929 respectively, and the buildings are now fully
occupied. The remain'ng scheme is in course of development. Details
of each scheme are as follows :—
(1) Hortensia House, Hortensia Road.
This group of buildings, comprising an area of 1 acre, 12 poles, provides
accommodation for 250 persons in 56 flats, namely 35 three-room
and 21 four-room flats. The total cost of the site and buildings was
£48,970. The total weekly rents, including hot water supply and electricity,
vary from 25s. to £1 14s. 3d. This scale of rents was drawn up
°n an economic basis, on the instructions of the Ministry of Health,
the Ministry's decision being based upon the high cost of the site and
construction. Such rents are obviously much higher than the working
classes proper can afford to pay and indeed most of the tenants are
classes in receipt of small salaries or earnings—a group not usually included
under the term " working classes."
(2) Guinness Trust Buildings, King's Road.
This group of buildings comprises an area of 1 acre, 3 roods and 28½
Poles, situated towards the western extremity of the Borough and bounded
by King's Road, Edith Grove and Tadema Road. It was purchased
by the Borough Council in 1928 at a cost of £19,000. An additional
small plot of land, 29¾ poles in extent, situated at the north-west corner
of the site and necessary for the purposes of the Scheme, was subsequently
Purchased by the Borough Council at a cost of £4,000, of which the
the Guinness Trust contributed £2,000.
With the consent of the Minister of Health, the Borough Council
has leased the site to the Guinness Trust for a term of 99 years at a
nominal rent and the Trust has erected working-class dwellings thereon,
Preference as to tenancies being given (a.) to persons residing in Chelsea
a.nd (b.) to persons employed in Chelsea. These buildings comprise a
total of 160 flats, of which 41 contain four rooms, 78 three rooms, 40
two rooms, and one is a one-room flat. Each flat has, in addition a
scullery, bathroom and lavatory. Perambulator sheds are provided
in the grounds, also a drying room for clothes, and a constant hot water
supply at the boiler house. These additional housing facilities are of
material assistance in meeting the needs of a large section unable to pay
the rents at Hortensia Road.
(3) Manor Street Site Scheme.
This site comprises an area of 1 acre, 16 poles, situated centrally in
the Borough, in close proximity to the Town Hall. The frontage is on
the western side of Manor-street, its northern and southern boundaries
being Wellington Street and Grove Buildings respectively. It was