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which would be necessary to secure sound foundations, and the further
obligation to house all the tenants to be displaced in the Pulford Street
houses abutting on the site, combined to show that the net increase in
housing accommodation did not justify the large financial outlay which the
scheme would demand. It was therefore very reluctantly resolved not
to proceed with the scheme.
WormhoU Estate, Hammersmith.—Early in the year a proposal was
made by the London County Council with reference to an estate at
AVormholt, on the outskirts of Hammersmith. It was suggested that so
many of the houses to be built should be allocated to neighbouring metropolitan
boroughs in order to relieve overcrowding and other insanitary
conditions. There were certain restrictions attached to the offer which
were not at first acceptable, but on re-consideration the City Council
entered into an agreement to accept allocation of 50 houses, for which the
Council pay to the London County Council £7 per annum per house for a
period of 20 years. In return for this payment the City Council has the right
to nominate Westminster residents for each of the 50 houses. The London
County Council retain the right to refuse a nominee, and, further, to
dispose of a "Westminster" house to persons from other districts in
the event of the City Council not having sufficient nominees to occupy
the quota. It was stated that the boroughs of Kensington and
Hammersmith had taken 100 each, and St. Marylebone 200. The
advantages of the Wormholt scheme as compared with the other housing
estates of the London County Council—e.g., Watling—are, that by having
houses reserved for Westminster a greater number of tenants can be
placed within a short period, and the fact that the Wormholt estate is
more accessible to Westminster than any other of the housing estates.
The accommodation of the Wormholt houses is specified as follows,
the rents quoted being exclusive of rates and water charges:—
Per week.
s. d.
3 rooms, scullery and bathroom (intermediate house) 11 0
4 rooms, scullery and bathroom (non-parlour end house) 12 6
4 rooms, scullery and bathroom (parlour house, intermediate) 13 6
5 rooms, scullery and bathroom (end house) 14 9
There is no guarantee that any particular houses will remain dedicated
to Westminster people, for the London County Council reserve the right,
on a house becoming vacant, to let it to any approved applicant; at the
same time the Westminster quota will be maintained by the allocation
of a house in another part of the estate.
The City Council nominated altogether 70 tenants, but unfortunately
15 of those were refused by the London County Council on various
grounds, as, for example, insufficient family income in relation to the
rents and travelling expenses connected with Wormholt. A further 15