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59
1926, the subject of an official representation under the Housing Act,
1925. After full enquiry, the Minister of Health's order confirming the
Scheme was received by the Borough Council in March, 1928.
Under the Scheme, as modified by the Minister of Health, the Council
are to provide upon the site dwellings for the accommodation of 379
persons of the working classes (approximately the number resident on
the area). Arrangements have been made for the erection (on the cleared
site) of four blocks of buildings comprising a total of 62 flats, of which
5 contain four rooms, 37 contain three rooms, and 20 contain 2 rooms.
A provisional estimate of £50,000, to include cost of acquisition, clearance
of the area and the erection of buildings thereon, has been approved by
the Borough Council.
All necessary work in connection with clearance of the area and construction
of new buildings is now in operation.
With the consent of the Minister of Health, the Borough Council has
leased, for 99 years at a nominal rent, to the Chelsea Housing Improvement
Society, Limited,—a public spirited and practical body—a portion
of the area. The site at the eastern end (that adjacent to the Embank
ment) was cleared first and the construction of two blocks of building
on this site has been completed. These are now fully occupied. The
construction of the third and fourth blocks is being proceeded with.
It has been agreed that the Society shall have the management of the
buildings on completion. During the process of reconstruction, the
Borough Council have made arrangements for the management of the
remaining properties on the area and the collection of rents, to be undertaken
by the Association of Women House Property Managers, as agents
of the Council.
Another area in the north-western district of the Borough contains
many houses which are old, worn out and require constant repairs and
renovations. Owing to the very high commercial value of this site.
these houses are rapidly being demolished and being replaced by modern
houses and mansions let in flats commanding high rents.
One of the most unsatisfactory features in this, as in other boroughs.
is the presence of a large number of houses let in lodgings. These houses
were not constructed for the purposes to which they are now put. The
use of staircases, washhouses, yarcls, waterclosgts, ashbins, etc., in
common leads to misuse and neglect, and the general environment is
not prone to the cultivation of habits of self-respect, morality or health
Many such houses are without adequate provision for the cooking or
storage of food, and housework is carried on at great inconvenience-
While the great majority of these houses are structurally sound a
number of them arc old, worn out and below the modern standards of
sanitation and convenience. It is probable that only a minority of the
tenants would be able to pay economic rents for alternative accommodation,
having regard to the rents that require to be fixed for new
dwellings owing to the greatly increased cost of land and construction
during recent years.