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erection of another small block, to be known as Arrow House, to contain 18 tenements
(48 rooms) were nearing completion at the end of the year.
On 20th July, 1926, the Council approved a capital estimate of £38,094, subsequently
reduced to £32,149, for the erection of three further blocks of dwellings
(Horner Houses). These dwellings, which are of the simplified type of construction,
have been designed to contain 80 tenements, comprising 188 rooms with accommodation
for 376 persons. Tenders were invited by public advertisement, and on
12th October,1926, the Council accepted the tender of Rowley Brothers, Limited,
amounting to £29,589 for the building work.
On 29th June, 1926, the Council fixed the weekly net rents (exclusive of rates
and water charges) for accommodation in Arrow House, and the extension of Archer
House, on the basis of the rents already fixed for the first portion of Archer House, as
follows—Ground floor—two rooms, 9s. 6d. to 10s.; three rooms, 11s. 9d. to 12s.
First and second floors—two rooms, 10s. to 10s. 6d.; three rooms, 12s. 3d. to
12s. 6d. Third and fourth floors combined—three rooms, 11s. to 12s. 3d. ; four
rooms, 13s. 6d.; five rooms, 15s. 6d.
In order to secure the site of certain licensed premises required for the redevelopment
of the area the Council during the year arranged terms with the
freeholders for the settlement of their claim on a re-instatement basis, subject to the
consent of the licensing justices.
Hickman's
folly
scheme.
Another unhealthy area which is being cleared by the Council is the Hickman's
folly area, Bermondsey (6 acres), to be known after reconstruction as Dicken's
estate. About 1,660 persons of the working classes will be displaced, and the order
of the Minister of Health confirming the clearance scheme requires the provision
of accommodation for this number of persons, of whom not fewer than 1,000 are
to be accommodated within the area.
For the purpose of providing part of the rehousing accommodation required
under the scheme, a block of dwellings (Strood House) has, as indicated above,
been erected in Staple-street on Tabard Garden estate, Southwark. The first block
of dwellings (Pickwick House), with accommodation for 302 persons in 52 tenements
to be erected on the Hickman's Folly area was nearing completion at
the end of the year. On 20th July, 1926, the Council approved a capital
estimate of £19,330, subsequently reduced to £17,960, for the erection of a
second block of dwellings (Oliver House) which will comprise 34 tenements, containing
96 rooms with accommodation for 192 persons. The offer of the contractors for the
erection of Pickwick House to undertake the work as an extension of their existing
contract at the rates and prices contained in the contract was accepted by the Council
on 12th October, 1926. At the end of the year the work of excavating and concreting
the foundations was proceeding.
On the basis of the rents charged at the Council's Swan-lane dwellings, Rotherhithe,
after making allowance for larger rooms, greater amenities and closer proximity
to the centre of London, the Council on 20th July, 1926, fixed the weekly net rents
(exclusive of rates and water charges) for accommodation at Pickwick House as
follows:—Ground Floor—two rooms, 8s. to 8s. 9d.; three rooms, 10s. to 10s. 9d.
First and second floors—two rooms, 8s. 6d. to 9s. 3d.; three rooms, 10s. 6d.
to 11s. 3d. Third and fourth floors combined—three rooms, 10s. to 10s. 9d.; four
rooms, 12s. to 13s.; five rooms, 14s. to 15s.
During the year the Council accepted the offer of the Bermondsey Metropolitan
Borough Council to instal electricity for lighting purposes and of the South Metropolitan
Gas Company to instal gas for cooking and lighting purposes at dwellings
on Dicken's estate, free of cost to the Council, the tenants to have the option of
using gas or electricity for lighting.