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opinion of the Council, supply a pressing need for accommodation at low rents.
Stated in general terms, the rent is based on the rent standard prevailing in the
neighbourhood for similar accommodation. In fixing the rents consideration is
given to the value of the amenities provided by the accommodation. Hence by an
alteration in the distribution of those amenities a lowering of rent becomes feasible
without in any way sacrificing any essential hygienic requirement. In slum clearances
the cost of the scheme affects the rents only indirectly, but evidently, if cheaper
construction can be obtained, it will have an important bearing on the general
question of rents.
White Hartlane
Estate.
Particulars 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 by the erection of 710 houses and flats was completed
in 1923. Arrangements were subsequently made for the development of the remainder
of the estate under the financial provisions of the Housing Act, 1924. The
erection of 138 dwellings and two shops along the Lordship-lane frontage of the
estate was completed during 1925, and the scale of weekly net rents (exclusive of
rates and water charges) has been fixed as follows:—Two-roomed flats, 9s. 3d. and
9s. 9d.; five-roomed (two-storey) dwellings, 14s. 3d. and 14s. 9d.
In May, 1925, the Council accepted the tender of F. Bracey (Roads) Limited,
amounting to £9,224 16s. 3d., for the construction of the necessary sewers and roads
on the remaining portion of the estate.
On 28th July, 1925, the Council approved a capital estimate of £229,468 for
the completion of the remainder of the estate, with the exception of one small site
which cannot be dealt with at present. The scheme provided for the erection of
346 houses and flats and nine shops. Tenders were invited by public advertisement,
but the Council could not see its way to accept any of the offers received,
and the question of the best course to be adopted to secure the erection of the houses
was still under consideration at the end of the year.
During the year a site on the estate was sold to the Wesleyan Church Authorities
for the erection of a church.
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
and a part of the second section has been completed by the erection of 792 houses.
Tenders for the erection of 422 houses and administrative buildings to complete
the development of the estate were invited in December, 1924, but none of the
tenders was accepted. On 3rd March, 1925, the Council decided to accept the offer
of C. J. Wills and Sons, Limited, to carry out the work on the basis of actual cost
with a variable fee or commission. As some of these houses were nearing completion,
on 20th October, 1925, the Council fixed the scale of weekly net rents for typical
houses as follows:—Three-roomed houses, 11s. 6d. and 12s.; four-roomed (nonparlour)
houses, 12s. 6d.; four-roomed (parlour) houses, 13s. 6d.; five-roomed
houses, 14s. 6d. Forty-five of the houses on the estate are to be erected under the
provisions of the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, governing State aid, while the remainder
(1,169) will be provided under the Assisted Scheme of 1919.
During the year expenditure was sanctioned of £713 for laying out an open
space on the estate, and of not exceeding £100 for the provision of fencing in connection
with the utilisation of a vacant plot of land as a children's playing ground.
Becontree.
The estate known as Becontree, situated in the county of Essex between
Chadwell Heath on the north and Ripple Road on the south, comprises about 2,800
acres, and was purchased with the aid of compulsory powers obtained in 1920.
The development of the estate, which has been entrusted to C. J. Wills and Sons,
Limited, on a cost plus profit basis, is being carried out in sections, and is being
proceeded with from three different directions—viz., the north-west, or Ilford