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133
As an incentive to the production of houses in large numbers, an addition of
5 per cent. is made to the grant in respect of each house in excess of 100 provided
by one agency making it £9 9s. or £8 8s., as the case may be, and a further addition
of 5 per cent. making it £9 18s. or £8 16s., in all, is made in respect of each house
over 300 so provided.
Up to 31st December, 1923, the Council had approved proposals submitted by
private builders for the erection of 495 houses to qualify for subsidy on completion.
The State contribution in respect of a house provided by a metropolitan borough
council is supplemented by the Council to the extent of one-half of the annual
loss over and above the amount of such contribution up to a sum not exceeding
£3 a year for 20 years.
Where sites are available on the Council's estates, the Council is prepared to
lease to builders plots of lands with sewers and roads constructed at an agreed ground
rent so fixed as to give the lessee credit for the subsidy for which the house to be
erected may be eligible.
The Act enables a local authority to grant certain relief from rates in houses
converted into two or more self-contained flats, but, in view of the complications in
the application of this provision to London, the Council has decided to take no action
thereon.
During 1923 the Council decided, with the approval of the Minister, to erect
upwards of 4,000 houses on its own estates to qualify for the State grant under the
Act. Particulars are given later.
Unhealthy
areas.
The Act empowers the Minister to contribute towards the expenses incurred
by local authorities in carrying out improvement schemes under Parts I. and II. of
the Housing Act of 1890, such contributions being limited to one half of the
estimated average annual loss. A figure of £200,000 a year for the whole country
has been mentioned by the Minister as the amount which might be contributed by
the State, and of this sum it is proposed to allocate £50,000 to London. A comprehensive
programme of slum clearance is being prepared by the Council and
several schemes have been made, some of which have been confirmed by the Minister.
Particulars are given later (see pp. 136-8).
White Hart
lane estate.
Details of the Council's housing operations during the year are as follows :—
The development of about 56 acres of the White Hart-lane estate under the
State assisted (1919) scheme was completed during the year. The 710 houses and
flats on this section, which were built by Messrs. Fred and T. Thorne under a contract
on a cost plus participating profit basis, comprise 143 of five rooms, 279 of four
rooms, 248 of three rooms, and 40 of two rooms.
The Council has prepared a scheme for the development of a small vacant site
of about 1 acre on the west side of the new arterial road through the estate. The
erection of 17 four-roomed houses to qualify for the State subsidy under the Act
of 1923 is proposed and the total expenditure, including cost of buildings, roads,
sewers and land is estimated at £10,118. A scheme for the erection of nine shops
with flats over on the Lordship-lane frontage is also being prepared. A site in Lordship-lane
has been let on building lease for the erection of a shop.
Roehampton
estate.
Roehampton estate was acquired in 1919, and an area of about 93 acres has been
allocated for the erection of working-class dwellings. The roads and sewers on the
whole estate have been constructed and the development of the first section has been
completed by the erection of 624 houses. A contract for 168 houses on the second
section is being carried out and 36 of the houses had been completed at the end
of 1923. This contract has been taken over by the Unit Construction Company,
Ltd., who have undertaken to carry out the work at the prices contained in the
original contract. The Minister of Health has approved the erection of 375 additional
houses to complete the development of the estate under the Assisted (1919) scheme,
and tenders for the major portion of the work were invited during the year. The
Minister was not, however, prepared to allow the Council to accept any of the
tenders received and the work has been postponed for the present.