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Baker's-alley,
Birchfieldstreet
and
Bromleyplace
scheme.
The scheme made by the Council in 1924 for the clearance of three insanitary
areas in the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar, known as the Baker's-alley (l1/3 acres),
Birchfield-street (¾ acre), and Bromley-place ( acre) areas was sanctioned by the
Minister of Health, subject to modifications, on 10th December, 1924. The Order
specifies that accommodation for not fewer than 190 of the 740 persons required
to be rehoused shall be provided on the Birchfield-street area. The acquisition of
the property included in the scheme is being proceeded with, and the plans for the
new dwellings were in course of preparation at the end of the year.
Prusom-
street
scheme.
The scheme made by the Council under Part I. of the Housing Act, 1890, for
dealing with the Prusom-street area in Wapping (8½ acres), as confirmed by the
Minister of Health, involves the displacement of 2,601 persons of the working classes
and the confirming order requires the provision of accommodation for an equal
number, of whom not fewer than 1,000 are to be accommodated on certain defined
lands within the area. The name "Wapping Estate" has been selected for the
area when reconstructed.
On 21st July and 13th October, 1925, the Council approved a capital estimate
of £17,867 in respect of the erection of the first block of dwellings to be known as
Willoughby House, and on 13th October, 1925, accepted the tender of Allen Fairhead
and Sons, Limited, amounting to £16,323, for the work.
On 3rd February, 1925, the Council agreed to an exchange with the Roman
Catholic Church authorities of lands included in the scheme for the purpose ot an
extension of their school in Dundee-street.
Watergatestreet
area.
Official representations under Part I. of the Housing Act, 1890, were made
to the Council on 19th January and 3rd February, 1925, by the Medical Officers of
Health of Deptford and Greenwich with reference to an unhealthy area known as
the Watergate-street area, which comprises about 210 houses of two and three storeys
in height in Watergate-street, Hughes-fields, Trevithick-street and Deptford-green.
Most ot the houses are very old and badly arranged, and the Council being satisfied
that the evils existing could onlv be remedied by means of an improvement scheme
under the Act, decided on 10th February, 1925, to make such a scheme. The area
includes three licensed premises. Adjoining the area are small plots of surplus lands
belonging to the Council as well as the sites of houses pulled down under demolition
orders which can with advantage be utilised for housing in connection with the
reconstruction of the area and which were included for making the scheme efficient.
The execution of the scheme as proposed, which comprises about 7¼ acres, will
involve the displacement of about 1,927 persons of the working classes, and the
scheme provides for the accommodation of this number of people on part of the
cleared sites. Incidentally, by means of a re-arrangement of boundaries and the
acquisition of a long strip of undeveloped land, the public recreation ground in
Hughes-fields will be improved and certain small street widenings will be effected.
The cost of acquisition and clearance is estimated at £80,000.
The scheme was duly submitted to the Minister of Health for confirmation,
and a public local inquiry into the proposal was held on 28th and 29th July, 1925.
At the end of the year the decision of the Minister was still awaited.
In order that there should be no delay in commencing the erection of
dwellings on the area when the scheme was confirmed, the preparation of plans for
the first two blocks was at once proceeded with, and the Council on 3rd November,
1925, approved a capital estimate of £1,000 to cover preliminary expenses in connection
with the reconstruction of the whole area.
Ossulstonstreet
area.
An official representation under Part I. of the Housing Act, 1890, was made to
the Council on 12th January, 1925, by the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras,
with reference to an unhealthy area, known as the Ossulston-street area (about
8 acres in extent) lying between Euston and St. Pancras railway stations. The
Council came to the conclusion that an improvement scheme under the Act ought