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14
At the close of the year, the following additional sites were in course of redevelopment for
housing purposes:—
No. of Flats
Church Street Extension 76*
Demolition work commenced during the latter part of the
year.
Aquila Street Extension 23
Structure completed; Internal work in progress.
Abercorn Place/Violet Hill 22
Approaching completion.
40/47, Chapel Street 20 †
Newcourt Street 48‡
Demolition works completed and tenders accepted for these
schemes.
9/25, Cochrane Street 32
Sketch plans approved.
Broadley Street/Penfold Street 28
Preparation of plans in progress.
* With shops below.
† With offices on ground floor.
‡ One-room flats.
Slum Clearance.
The position at the close of the year in regard to the Council's slum clearance programme was as
follows:—
Ashbridge Street.—One property purchased by voluntary negotiations. Compulsory Purchase
Order for remainder to be made in January, 1959.
Freshwater Place and Homer Row.—Two premises purchased by voluntary negotiation. Compulsory
Purchase Order for remainder to be made during 1959.
Mulready Street Area.—Compulsory Purchase Order made and submitted to Minister of Housing
and Local Government for confirmation.
Wells Buildings
Burne Street
Abbey Gardens Mews
Rathbone Street Clearance Orders to be submitted to the Minister of Housing and Local Government early in 1959.
Clipstone Street.—The possibility of developing part of the area bounded by Carburton Street,
Cleveland Street, Clipstone Street and Gt. Titchfield Street is being examined.
Three unfit dwellings in the area, which were included in the slum clearance programme, were
closed.
Factory-made Bungalows ("Prefabs").
Twenty-four families are still in this type of accommodation.
Requisitioned Premises.
The number of residential units held under requisition continued to decline in accordance with
the approved programme which envisages the end of requisitioning by 31st March, 1960, the statutory
date for the expiry of the Council's powers. The total number of units held at the end of the year was
364. Ten units formerly requisitioned were purchased or leased and 99 premises (176 families) were
transferred to the owners. The total number of requisitioned units released during the year was 160.
Housing of Old People.
It is proposed to utilise a proportion of the one-room flats to be erected at Newcourt Street for old
people. Discussions are proceeding (a) with representatives of the St. Marylebone Almshouses with
a view to co-operation in the modernisation of the Almshouses and (b) in respect of improvement
grants with representatives of (i) the Christian Union Almshouses for modernisation; (ii) the W.V.S.
for the conversion of Dorset Chambers, Chagford Street into 16 self-contained flats; and (iii) the
Ladies' Home for Gentlewomen at 41, Abbey Road, N.W.8, for improving, modernising and extending
the premises.