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181
George'sroad
and
brand-street
scheme.
The scheme, confirmed by the Minister of Health in 1925, for dealing with
the two unhealthy areas, known as the George's-road and Brand-street areas,
Holloway (4¾ acres), involves the displacement of 1,320 persons of the working
classes.
Up to the end of 1928 Branston and Rollit Houses on the Brand-street area,
comprising 48 tenements (146 rooms) had been erected, and during the year Radford
and Hartnoll Houses on the George's-road area, comprising 135 tenements (111 of
the normal type and 24 of the simplified type) with 376 rooms, were completed.
In November, 1929, arrangements were made for the laying-out of the forecourts
of Radford and Hartnoll Houses, including the provision of paths, seats and
the planting with small trees, at an estimated cost of £200.
An exchange of lands with the Northern Polytechnic Institute, foreshadowed
at the inception of the scheme, was completed during the year. A plot of land
belonging to the Institute was incorporated in the site of the new dwellings erected
on the Brand-street area and a portion of the area was conveyed by the Council for
the extension of the Institute premises. A net payment by the Institute of £5,250
by way of equality of exchange was agreed to by the Council on 19th November,
1929.
Watergate-
street
scheme.
The Watergate-street scheme deals with an unhealthy area in Deptford and
Greenwich, known as the Watergate-street area, about 7½ acres in extent. The
area adjoins and, when reconstructed, will form part of an existing housing estate,
known as Hughes Fields estate. The scheme, which was confirmed by the Minister
of Health in 1926, involves the displacement of 1,927 persons of the working classes.
At the end of 1928, Blake and Hawkins Houses, comprising in all 67 tenements
(198 rooms), had been erected. During 1929, Clinton House, containing 37 tenements
with 156 rooms, and two of five further blocks to be known as Watergate Houses,
were completed. These five blocks will comprise in all 48 tenements (168 rooms).
On 26th March, 1929, the Council approved an estimate of £9,510 for the
erection of a further block five storeys high, to be known as Grenville House, comprising
17 tenements with 53 rooms, and the tender of R. J. Rowley, Limited, amounting
to £8,634 was accepted for the building work. Good progress had been made
with the work at the end of the year. On 30th July, 1929, an estimate of £6,029
was approved for the erection of (i) three lock-up shops with three dwellings over
them, in New King-street, and (ii) three lock-up shops, one coal shop and store and
two lock-up workshops in Watergate-street, and other works. The tender of Mr.
Thos. D. Leng, amounting to £1,937, for the building work under item (ii) was
accepted. At the end of the year plans had been approved or were in course of
preparation in respect of the erection of four further blocks of dwellings.
The Council, on 23rd April, 1929, agreed to let on lease for 21 years a plot of
land fronting on Prince-street, Deptford, surplus to the requirements of the scheme.
As part of the arrangement, a strip of land was surrendered for addition to Princestreet,
and the lessee agreed, if and when required by the Council, to surrender
for a similiar purpose a portion of the land leased to him.
The "Osborn Arms" beerhouse, one of the three licensed premises included in
the scheme, has been reinstated on an adjoining site leased by the Council for the
purpose. The new building was completed during the year and the application for
the removal and renewal of the licence has been granted.
Ossulston-
street
scheme.
The scheme for dealing with the Ossulston-street area, St. Pancras (about
8 acres), involves the displacement of about 2,557 persons of the working classes.
The scheme was confirmed by the Minister of Health in 1926. The name Ossulston
estate has been selected for the area when reconstructed.
The area naturally divides itself into three sections—the northern, between
Hampden-street and Phœnix-street; the central, between Phoenix-street and
Christ Church and its school; and the southern, between Christ Church and Weir's-