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82
In the case of Ebury Bridge, the progress of construction has been so
rapid that although the whole scheme was approved by the Council
only in October, 1928, by the time this report is in circulation, most of
the blocks will be nearing completion, and some will be ready for occupation
about September, 1930. In the Millbank area, the buildings in
Vincent Street will also be ready to receive tenants about July, 1930. As
regards the larger and remaining sections of the Millbank Housing
Scheme, demolition and clearance of the area between Page Street and
Horseferry Road at the western end opposite Jessel and Schomberg
Houses, will be well advanced by March, 1930.
The purpose of the Ebury Bridge scheme is to provide improved
housing for those whose work lies in Westminster and who are living in
overcrowded or otherwise unsatisfactory conditions in the City; that of
the Millbank scheme is to rehouse tenants on the Millbank Estate, whose
dwellings, already unsatisfactory, were rendered permanently unfit by
the Thames flood of 1928.
Photographs of the actual progress of the two schemes are shown
on the following pages. In the report of last year, the illustrations shown
were photographs of the schemes in contemplation. It is now possible
to illustrate the actual buildings so far as completed.
It may be useful to recapitulate details of the accommodation soon
to be ready for occupation. At Ebury Bridge there are to be 8 blocks
of flats. They will consist of 18 one-room, 56 two-room, 88 three-room
and 48 four-room flats. The rents to be charged will be consistent with
those ruling at the Council's existing dwellings, namely, one room, 6s. 6d.;
two rooms, 10s. 2d; three rooms, 13s. 3d.; four rooms, 17s. 2d.; weekly,
inclusive of rates. It is perhaps worth while for a moment to
contemplate the very great advantages to be conferred on those who,
mainly by reason of their large families are fortunate in possessing a
prior claim to be housed in the Council's dwellings. For the inclusive
sum of 17s. 2d. per week may be had a four-roomed flat and in
addition, a kitchen, fitted with a gas cooker, sink, gas copper and bath.
Separate w.c. for each flat and fuel stores are provided. Others whose
applications cannot be accepted on the grounds that they are neither
overcrowded nor otherwise living in insanitary conditions, may be.
paying double that rent for smaller accommodation without any of
the modern conveniences mentioned. One particularly flagrant case
was noted recently—37s. 6d. per week for two unfurnished rooms in a
working-class house in Pimlico.
Progress with the major part of the Millbank scheme is necessarily
slower because of the varying periods of tenancy of the occupiers and the
settlement of business claims where commercial premises have to be
acquired to make space for the housing scheme. The 70 flats on the