View report page

185
scheme. The trustees have expressed their willingness to include in the agreement
an option to the Council to acquire the block of property lying to the west of the
clearance area, and in the meantime, as and when the houses become vacant, to
accept as tenants persons displaced from houses in the clearance area. This arrangement
will greatly facilitate the execution of the clearance scheme.
West Ferryroad
area.
Following on an official representation by the medical officer of health of
Poplar, the Council on 22nd January, 1929, decided to make a scheme under Part II
of the Housing Act, 1925, in respect of about 2½ acres of land in Poplar situated on
the north-east side of West Ferry-road, comprising 66 dwelling houses which are
old, badly planned and poorly maintained. The area is subject to periodical flooding
and considerable damage was done to the houses in the area during the Thames
floods of January, 1928. The scheme involves the displacement of 374 persons of
the working classes and rehousing accommodation for at least that number of persons
can be provided on the area when cleared. An estimate of £25,000 for the acquisition
and clearance of the area was approved. The cost of providing the requisite
rehousing accommodation, including works necessary to render the new dwelling
immune from flooding, was roughly estimated at £32,000.
Hard-street
area.
The Council on 5th March 1929, decided to make a scheme under Part II of the
Housing Act, 1925, in respect of an area of about 5¼ acres situated to the east of
Walworth-road and mainly to the north of East-street, Walworth. For the purpose
of making an efficient scheme the area (about 4½ acres) officially represented by the
medical officer of health of Southwark was enlarged by the addition of adjoining
properties, bringing the total area up to about 5¼ acres. The displacement of about
1,200 persons of the working classes is involved, and it is estimated that rehousing
accommodation for about 1,140 persons can be provided on the area when cleared,
leaving the balance of the rehousing accommodation to be provided elsewhere.
Under the scheme as proposed a new 40 feet wide road parallel to Walworth-road
will be provided to connect Brandon-street and Portland-street, some roads will
be widened and most of old mean streets and alleys will be closed. An estimate of
£65,000 in respect of the acquisition and clearance of the area, including the road
works, was approved. The cost of providing the necessary rehousing accommodation
on the area was roughly estimated at £107,000. Some of the old properties included
in the scheme are being purchased by the Council, with the consent of the Minister of
Health, in advance of confirmation of the scheme.
East Hill
estate.
East Hill estate, Wandsworth (8 acres), was purchased in 1924 for the purpose
of providing rehousing accommodation in connection with the clearance of unhealthy
areas. The 13 blocks of dwellings provided on the estate comprise 524 tenements
with 1,627 rooms.
The last two blocks (Yarmouth and Lowestoft Houses) containing 32 tenements
(120 rooms) were completed during 1929. The Council in September, 1929, accepted
the tender of Messrs. Fitzpatrick and Son, amounting to £1,211 for paving the footways
and finishing the carriageways adjacent to these two blocks and of constructing
a short connecting road on the estate between St. Peter's-place, off the
estate, and Darvall-square. The work was approaching completion at the end
of the year.
Shore estate.
Another estate in course of development by the Council for rehousing purposes
is Shore Estate, South Hackney (3 acres), which has been taken on building lease
for 99 years from the Governors of St. Thomas's Hospital. Up to the end of 1928,
the first two blocks of dwellings, known as Grendon and Kendal Houses respectively,
had been erected. These two blocks contain 92 tenements with 254 rooms.
During 1929 a further block of dwellings of the normal type (Tornay House),
which is a replica of Kendal House and comprises 44 tenements (134 rooms), an
estate workshop and store, and 10 perambulator sheds was completed.
On 26th March, 1929, the Council approved a capital estimate of £18,312 for