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

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London County Council 1921

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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75
agreed to surrender for the purpose part of the housing site, subject to the Essex County Council bearing
the cost of fencing and also tenants' compensation.
During 1921 the boundary between the estate and the Goodmayes recreation ground was adjusted,
this involving the reconstruction of the entrance gates and the provision of fencing along the new
boundary at the Council s expense. Action has been taken for the diversion of certain footpaths on
the Ilford section.
Central administrative offices with superintendent's residence, stores and workshops, and a subestate
office, including residence for a second superintendent, are being provided on the Ilford section at
an estimated cost of £5,770. A temporary estate office has been provided at a cost of about £80 including
fittings. There is a nursery garden in which shrubs are grown in connection with the laying out of the
estate.
On 19th January, 1921, the Council authorised the erection, at a cost not exceeding £8,000, of
huts for the skilled workmen employed and a canteen has been provided for the supply of refreshments.

The initial weekly net rents for the new houses have been fixed, with the approval of the Minister of Health, on the following scale:—

Type of house.Accommodation.Net rent.
s. d.
Class ELiving room, parlour and four bedrooms with scullery and bathroom20 -
Class ALiving room, parlour and three bedrooms, with scullery and bathroom15 -
Class BLiving room and three bedrooms, with scullery and bathroom13 -
Class DLiving room and two bedrooms, with scullery and bathroom12 -
Three-roomed flatLiving room and two bedrooms, with scullery and bathroom11 -
Two-roomed flatLiving room and one bedroom, with scullery and bathroom9 -

These rents, which exclude rates, are subject to variation by reason of position or special
amenities.
In accordance with an undertaking given to the South Essex Waterworks Company during the
passage of their bill through the House of Commons in the session of 1921, an agreement was entered
into with the Company for the supply of water to houses on the Ilford section, the Council guaranteeing
15 per cent, a year for five years on the cost of providing and laying distribution (not trunk) mains with
a further guarantee of 10 per cent, a year on such cost after the period of five years until the water rates
should equal such 10 per cent, for two consecutive years.
The negotiations, begun in 1920, with the Gas Light and Coke Company for the installation of gas
resulted in an agreement whereby the company undertook to supply gas to all the houses to be erected on
the Ilford section, the company providing all necessary fittings, including gas cooker, water heater,
hot water cylinder and piping with a connection to the boiler behind the stove in the living-room, in
consideration of a capital payment by the Council of £22 a house and of the Council providing at its own
cost a built-in gas fire in the second bedroom of each four-roomed house in which a coal grate had not.
already been installed and building-in a gas fire in the second bedroom of each three-roomed house in
which a coal grate had not been installed, provided that no excess in the cost of the latter installation over
that of a coal grate would fall upon the Council. The company's offer to instal a gas fire in one bedroom
of each five or six-roomed house on similar terms was subsequently accepted. Owing to the great cost
involved in introducing both electricity and gas into the same house, the Council, after consultation with
the Minister of Health, reluctantly abandoned the proposal for lighting some of the houses by electricity.
The adoption of gas light for houses on the Ilford section will not, however, preclude the use of electricity
on land which may be leased by the Council. The condition that the Gas Company shall provide a hot
water cylinder and connect it with the boiler behind the stove in the living room or kitchen is a substantial
consideration as it will relieve the Council of expenditure which it would otherwise have to incur.
Bellingham.
lhe Louncil has acquired at a cost ot an estate ol 252 acres at Bellingham between the
Mid-Kent and Bromley branches of the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway. About 176i acres
are being developed by the erection of 2,056 houses under a contract, on a cost plus participating
profit basis, with Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons. The order to commence work was given on 23rd
October, 1920, and by the end of 1921 more than 1,800 houses had been commenced, of which 125 were
completed and occupied. The construction of roads and sewers is proceeding under the same contract.
A workmen's canteen has been provided, the catering arrangements being the subject of a sub-contract.
The Metropolitan Water Board has agreed to supply water on the terms usual in such cases, namely,
that the Council guarantees one-tenth annually of the cost of laying the mains until such time as the
water rate for domestic purposes amounts annually to that sum. In order to reduce the incrustation
in pipes and boilers, which is excessive in this district owing to the nature of the water supplied, the
Council has adopted a secondary heating svstem.
Two sites, about 5 acres in extent and valued approximately at £7,570, have been allocated for
elementary schools. Administrative offices with superintendent's residence, stores and workshops are
being provided at an estimated cost of £3,740.

The initial weekly net rents, excluding rates, for typical houses have been fixed, with the approval of the Minister of Health, a,s follows:—

Type of house.Accommodation.Net rent.
s. d.
Class ALiving room, parlour, and three bedrooms with scullery and bathroom16 6
Class BLiving room and three bedrooms, with scullery and bathroom14 6
Class DLiving and two bedrooms, with scullery and bathroom13 6
Three-roomed flatLiving room and two bedrooms, with scullery and bathroom11 6
Two-roomed flatLiving room and one bedroom, with scullery and bathroom10 -