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l1s. and l1s. 6d. ; four-roomed flats, 13s. and 13s. 6d., with slight variations on account
of position or amenities. Electric light has been installed by the Bethnal Green
Metropolitan Borough Council in the tenements and on the staircases, and a gas
installation for cooking and heating has been supplied by the gas company in consideration
of a payment by the Council of £3 a tenement.
The site for the second block of dwellings (Pellew House) to accommodate 274
persons has been cleared and tenders for the erection of the building were about
to be invited at the end of 1923.
Ware-street
scheme.
The scheme for dealing with the Ware-street area, Hoxton (9¼ acres), under Part 1.
of the Housing Act, 1890, was confirmed with modifications by the Minister of Health
on 20th June, 1922. The cost of acquisition and clearance is estimated at £93,500.
About 2,648 persons of the working classes will be displaced and accommodation
has to be provided for that number, of which not fewer than 2,160 are to be accommodated
within the area. The site of the first block of dwellings, to be known as Archer
House, with accommodation for 228 persons, is being acquired. The provision of 72
three-storey cottage flats as rehousing accommodation for 378 persons on the White
Hart-lane estate was approved by the Minister of Health, and on 31st July, 1923,
the Council accepted the tender of £30,690 by Messrs. Rowley Bros. for the erection
of the buildings. Accommodation for 120 persons will still remain to be provided
outside the area and this may be met by the allocation of another site on the White
Hart-lane estate. For the Ware-street area when reconstructed the name Whitmore
estate has been selected.
Hickman's
Folly scheme.
On 23rd May, 1923, the Minister of Health confirmed, subject to modifications,
the scheme made by the Council under Part I. of the Housing Act of 1890 for dealing
with the Hickman's Folly area of about 6 acres, comprising 226 dwelling houses in
addition to some business premises. About 1,645 persons of the working classes
will be displaced, and the order requires the provision of accommodation for 1,660
persons, of whom not fewer than 1,000 are to be accommodated in the area. The
cost, excluding the cost of erecting the new dwellings, is estimated at £93,500.
Negotiations are proceeding for the acquisition of the property, and proposals for
the lav-out of the area and the provision of new dwellings are being considered.
Bell-lane and
Ellen-street
scheme.
On 8th November, 1923, the Minister of Health confirmed, with modifications,
the scheme made by the Council under Part I. of the Housing Act of 1890 for dealing
with the Bell-lane area, Spitalfields (4 acres), and the Ellen-street area, St. Georgein-the-East
(1½ acres).
The scheme provides that dwellings for the accommodation of 1,705 persons
of the working classes shall be provided, of whom not fewer than 600 shall be accommodated
in the Bell-lane area, and the remainder elsewhere. Questions arising
out of the confirming order are being considered.
Prusom-
street
scheme.
On 27th February, 1923, the Council made a scheme under Part I. of the Housing
Act of 1890, for dealing with the Prusom-street area in Wapping. The area, which
is about 10¼ acres in extent, comprises 326 dwelling houses, occupied by about 2,704
persons of the working classes. It also includes various buildings used as workshops
and stables, the Congregational chapel fronting Old Gravel-lane and the large
building known as the casual wards in Raymond-street. The sites of certain properties
already demolished also come within the area. Speaking generally, the
streets are narrow and the houses old and badly arranged, with dampness apparent
in most of them. The Council is satisfied that the condition of the area generally
is such that nothing short of clearance and reconstruction can afford an effective
remedy for the evils existing. Owing to the surroundings, as well as the shape and
extent of the cleared sites, a large part of the northern end of the area is not considered
suitable for the provision of housing accommodation, and the scheme, if
confirmed, would permit of this being disposed of for commercial purposes. On
the bulk of the remainder of the area it is proposed to provide accommodation for
2,030 persons. The remaining 674 persons will be provided for elsewhere, pre-