View report page

190
The erection of these two buildings was made the occasion for ascertaining
definitely whether any economical substitute could be obtained for the type of brick
construction usually adopted by the Council for block dwellings. Alternative designs
were accordingly prepared ; one based on the normal method of brick construction,
and the other specially adapted to the requirements of steel and concrete ; and for
the latter design alternatives of (1) a steel frame with external walling entirely of
concrete, and (2) a steel frame with external walling of concrete but with brick facing
were included. In addition to the different methods of construction embraced by
the drawings and specification, provision was made to enable prices to be submitted
for the buildings if constructed of any special material such as reinforced concrete,
or by any special method, the drawings in these cases being regarded as indicative
only of the requirements as to equipment and accommodation.
Tenders on this basis were accordingly invited by public advertisement, and, as
a result 15 tenders were received for normal brick construction, 17 for steel and
concrete construction, and 2 for reinforced concrete construction. The lowest
tender received was for buildings of normal brick construction. In every case in
which a firm had submitted prices, both for brick and steel frame construction, the
price of brick construction was considerably lower. The tenders for steel frame
construction showed a substantial reduction in every instance if brick facing, instead
of concrete throughout, were used for the external walls. The lowest tender for
brick construction (£21,752) was equivalent to about £151 a habitable room, for
steel frame construction (£24,442) about £170 a room, and for reinforced concrete
construction (£24,762), about £172 a room. The tender for buildings of the normal
brick construction submitted by Mr. R. J. Rowley, amounting to £21,752, was
eventuallv accepted.
Hornsey-rise
estate.
The Hornsey Rise estate, Islington (3 acres), was purchased by the Council in
1925 and the accommodation for 1,168 persons which will be provided thereon
has been allocated for rehousing persons of the working class displaced in connection
with the acquisition of properties for the education service.
Tenders for the erection of the first block of dwellings were invited by public
advertisement, with the intention that the contracts for the three blocks should
be let on the basis of the prices tendered for the first. The Council on 16th March,
1926. accepted the tender, amounting to £37,324 14s. 5d. for block No. 1, submitted
by E. D. Winn and Company, Limited; and on the same date approved a capital
estimate of £112,080 for the erection of the three blocks of dwellings to be known
as Ritchie House, Goldie House and Welby House, respectively.
On 9th November, 1926, the Council decided that electricity should be employed
for general lighting purposes on the estate and that gas should be installed for cooking
and heating and ancillary lighting for the use of tenants if desired. The wiring and
fitting for electric lighting will be carried out bv and at the expense of the Council.
Well-street
site.
The attention of the Council was directed during the year to a site at South
Hackney, suitable for development by the erection of dwellings to be utilised for
the provision of rehousing accommodation in connection with schemes for the
clearance of unhealthy areas in East London. The site, which is about 3 acres in
extent, lies in the quadrangle bounded by the gardens of houses in Well-street, St
Thomas's-road, King Edward-road, and Shore-road. The site is about two miles
distant from the Poplar areas, the Prusom-street area, Wapping, and the Bell-lane
area, Spitalfields, and about a mile from the Brady-street area, Bethnal Green, and
the Ware-street area, Hoxton, and is, therefore, very conveniently and centrally
situated for rehousing purposes. The Governors of St. Thomas's Hospital, the
owners of the property, while not prepared to dispose of the freehold, were willing
to let the land on building lease for 99 years, at rents of £60 for each of the first and
second years, £125 for the third year, and £150 for the fourth year, £175 for the fifth
year and £250 a year subsequently. Part of the site was subject to certain leases