London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1882

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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31
LEGISLATION DURING THE YEAR.
Artizans' Duellings Act, 1892.—This Act amends the
Artizans' and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Acts, 1875
and 1879 in certain important particulars. Under the 1875
Act, it is ordered that an improvement scheme of a Local
Authority shall provide for the accommodation of at the
least as many persons of the working class as may be
displaced in the area with respect to which the scheme is
proposed, in suitablo dwellings which, unless there are special
reasons to the contrary shall be situated within the limits of
the same area, or in its vicinity. Under the 1879 Act
it is permitted that the accommodation may be provided at
some other place than within the area or its immediate
vicinity, while under the Act of 1882, the Confirming Authority
is permitted to dispense with the obligation of the Local
Authority to provide accommodation for one half of the
persons of the working class thus displaced.
The same Act provides that where the Officer of Health
finds any building, although not in itself unfit for human
habitation, is so situated that by reason of its promixity to or
contact with any other buildings, it stops ventilation or otherwise
conduces to make or makes such other buildings in a
condition unfit for human habitation, or it prevents proper
measures from being carried into effect for remedying the
evils complained of in respect of such other buildings, he
shall report the case to the local authority who shall have
the same powers for its removal as if it were itself unfit for
human habitation.
Metropolis Management and Building Acts (Amendment) Act,
1982.—This Act among other matters provides that every
new building begun to be erected upon a site not previously
occupied, in whole or in part, by a building after the passing
of this Act, intended to be used wholly or in part as a
dwelling house, shall, unless the Metropolitan Board of
"Works otherwise permit, have directly attached to it, and in
its rear, an open space exclusively belonging to it of the
following extent:—
"Where the building has a frontage not exceeding 15 feet,
the extent of the open space shall be at least 150 square
feet. "Where the frontage is not less than 15 feet and not
more than 20 feet, an open space not less than 200 square