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adequate powers of organisation and the necessary resources, as it was only by so
doing that the financial and time-saving advantages accruing from railway connections
across the estate could be fully secured. Towards the end of 1923 alternative tenders
for the work were invited by advertisement, the tender in the one case to be on a
firm price basis and in the other on the basis of cost price with a varying fee or commission.
The tenders were due to be received early in 1924.
Tabardstreet,
etc.
scheme.
The Tabard-street and Grotto-place, Southwark, and Crosby-row, Bermondsey,
scheme* relates to areas of about 17 acres, comprising 875 houses with a population
of 4,593. Rehousing accommodation has to be provided on the Tabardstreet
area for not fewer than 2,580 persons. The reconstructed area is known as
the Tabard Garden estate. Chaucer, Becket, Geoffrey and Harbledown Houses
with accommodation for 1,650 persons were completed between 1916 and 1922 ;
Rochester House, containing 42 tenements with accommodation for 260 persons in
May, 1923; and Huberd House, containing 38 tenements with accommodation for 214
persons in October, 1923. Tenders for the erection of Tabard House to contain
42 tenements with accommodation for 256 persons were invited towards the end of
1923. Three shops with flats over and four workshops are to be erected on land
adjoining Chaucer House, the work being undertaken early in 1924. The Southwark
Metropolitan Borough Council has undertaken, at an estimated cost of £1,920, to
complete the widening of Pardoner-street and to construct another short length
of the new road named Manciple-street, the work, however, to be paid for on the
basis of actual cost. Six perambulator or bicycle sheds to be let at 6d. a week
each have been constructed in the courtyard of Huberd House at an estimated
cost of £70.
The weekly net rents for accommodation in Rochester House and Huberd
House, have been fixed as follows : Two rooms, 10s. 6d. and l1s.; three rooms,
13s. to 14s. 6d. ; four rooms, 15s. 6d. and 16s. ; five rooms, 18s., with slight variations
on account of position or other special amenities.
The centre of the estate will be laid out as a public garden, about 5 acres in
extent, but much of the site is still covered with houses of which it is difficult to obtain
possession on account of the shortage of accommodation. A portion has been made
available as a temporary playground for children and arrangements are being made
for the permanent lay-out of the first section comprising about 1 acre.
Brady street
scheme.
On 1st February, 1922, the Minister of Health confirmed with certain modifications
the scheme made by the Council under Part II. of the Housing Act, 1890,
for dealing with the Brady-street area, Bethnal Green (7 acres) at an estimated cost
of £101,000, excluding the cost of new dwellings. About 1,875 persons of the working
classes will be displaced and the confirming order requires the provision of accommodation
for 1,600 persons on the cleared site and for 265 persons elsewhere. A site
at Goldsmith's-row, Shoreditch, has been appropriated for the purpose and a block
of dwellings known as Whiston House, containing 12 tenements with accommodation
for 90 persons erected thereon. An exchange of lands was agreed with Mann,
Crossman and Paulin, Ltd., by which an outlying part of the area adjoining their
premises was to be retained by or transferred to them, and they undertook to provide
at Walthamstow accommodation for at least 175 persons, which is the number of
those to be displaced from that part. Plans were submitted to the Council and
approved in October, 1923, for 36 cottages, comprising 10 with two bedrooms, living
room and parlour and 26 with one additional bedroom, and the building work was
commenced before the end of the year.
The reconstructed arc. will be known as the Collingwood estate, and the first
block of dwellings therein known as Bullen House, containing 45 tenements
with accommodation for 274 persons, was completed in September,
1923. The net rents are : Two-roomed flats, 9s. and 9s. 6d.; three-roomed flats,
*See Annual .Reports for 1915-19 (vol. III., p. 116), and 1920 (vol. III., p. 128).