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1930, while a further section of 70 flats will be ready in the early part
of 1931.
There are thus provided on this site additional dwellings numbering
210.
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The Grosvenor Housing Scheme.
The Grosvenor Housing Scheme on the Millbank Estate is being
completed in stages as accommodation becomes available for those whose
houses are being demolished. It must be remembered that this is an
Improvement Scheme, and consequently involves demolition and clearance
before new dwellings can be built. Even so, the first two blocks,
comprising 70 flats, in Vincent Street, were completed in May, 1930, and
occupied in June, 1930. The tenants are strictly confined to those
resident on the Millbank area. The 70 families were moved into the
flats after a formal opening ceremony had been performed by H.R.H.
Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood. Each of the tenants was presented
with a bronze key of beautiful design as a memento of the
ceremony. Since then very substantial progress has been made with the
rest of the scheme: two large blocks, providing each 84 flats, are in
course of construction, and one has reached the third storey and will
be ready for occupation by August, 1931. [See photographs.) In
another part of the area the ground has been cleared, and preparation
for the erection of a further block of 141 dwellings is well advanced.
Ebury Bridge Scheme.
The Ebury Bridge estate, as is well-known, was built on surplus land
and therefore makes a substantial contribution to the working-class
housing of the City. The tenants selected for these dwellings were those
living in overcrowded or otherwise unsatisfactory conditions in Westminster.
Preference has always been given to those whose work lies
in the City of Westminster, or whose work requires them to live close
at hand. The applications received for these flats were naturally very
greatly in excess of the available accommodation and it has been
rumoured by disappointed applicants that the flats were being filled by
people from other Metropolitan areas. It is well that this rumour should
be definitely dispelled ; 107 of the families to be rehoused through the
additional accommodation provided, were cases investigated by the
Medical Officer of Health, and recommended by him on grounds of overcrowding
and other unsatisfactory conditions. In two instances only
was this plan departed from ; both were night workers employed by
the City Council, one had moved away temporarily, because his house
in Westminster was demolished as a dangerous structure, while the