NATIONAL HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 155, 26 March 1919, Page 8

NATIONAL HOUSING

OFFICIAL DETAILS OF A GREAT SCHEME A "LONDON VILLAGE" The details of tbo British Government's Housing Scheme have been under serious Lunsi'lumlion by the Loud Government and it is expected that the muii. of erecting the first houses will Ik comnicnctd almost immediately, and be developed as last as the schemes are unproved". During the oast lew weeks the president of the Local Government Board lias been closely engaged in connection with organisation. A Chief Commissioner in London, and eight District Commissioners throughout England and Wales, will bo appointed to administer the scheme, 'they will be men with wide knowledge and experience- of housn<and will be vested with important discretionary powers in respect to buililnu schemes.' A manual is in cuurse of preparation, and will shortly be. issued, for use J>y local authorities and others as a guide. It will embodv plans of several types of houses of the latest designs, and "type" plans prepared by the ]/•>■ Government Board with special reference In the necessity for planning a cottage i relation to aspect, so that the living and working rooms mav have as much sun as nossible, whilst larders ami stores revive as little as possible. The general aim will/ be to'secure that only twelve houses shall be erected to tho acre in urban areas, and wilt in rural areas. A (treat number of them, in addition to a kitchen, larder, scullery, three bedrooms, washhouse. and bathroom or but:i. should, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, be provided with a comfortable living room or parlour, and garden.

Standardised Fittings, Practically all the essential fittings are being standardised, including doors, windows, kitchen ranges, baths, bolK locks, door-handles, and general fittings, designs for which have been prepared and samples chosen. Arrangements are being made with Hie Ministry of Munitions to placb orders 1 for these standard fillings, and, where practicable, existing munition factories and works will bo utilised for their production, with a vi.ew to providing employment for as many munition woiiiers as possible. The Local Government Board also supports the proposal that in districts where there are building employers of proved capacity | the work in connection with tho National Housing Scheme should bo given to them bv competitive tender in preference to contractors "taking up huge contracts from tho centre. The board, acting in conjunction with the London County Council, is making arrangements for the oreo.tion in jjondon of a village of model houses. Each house will be a complete model for tho guidance of local authorities throughout the country, both as' regards architectural stylo and internal arrangements. The houses will be erected from- the plans which won the premiums in the recent competition instituted by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Many of the suggestions contained in the TudorWalters report will also be carried into effect in tho building of theso dwellings, and it is contemplated that standard fittings shall be used in tho construction, so that thev will be available at all times as v. practical demonstration of the type of house tho Local Government Board advocates. A propusal is also .indcr consideration for the holding of a Trades Exhibition, at which the different manufacturers concerned in the erection, eiiuipmenl, and furnishing of cottage houses will have an opportunity of displaying to tho public their various goods. The general policy adopted bv the board will bo on parallel lines to the policy laid down in the Tiuhr-Walcrs report, and to tho suggestions put forward by the National Housing and Town-Planning Council. One important suggestion contained in the memorandum submitted by the latter body is also in accordance with the policy of Hie board, namely, Hint housing schemes shall be approved by stages, thus saving a. great amount of unnecessary work.

Throe StagßS. The suggestions submitted to the' Lucal Gr.u-inment Board by the National Housing and Town-Planning Council with regard lo tho carrying out of the national scheme in stages, include the folkwing: 1 Local authorities should be asked to send in, through the dislrict commissioners, to the Local Government Board, at the earliest possible date, definite slateraents as to their proposals and difficulties (if such have arisen) as to the acquisition of land, and thus render it possiblo to deal with the vital question as to suitability and adequacy. The details should be those relating to the. question of the acquisition of land. This stage should bo passed through as quickly as possible, thus tendering possible a passing on rapidly to the second stage -namely, that of preparing a proper lay-out of the land. Local authorities should not be urged to prepare lay-out plans before they are reasonably certain that the sites are.likely to-be approved. The preparation of a plan of lay-out for an unsuitable site, not only represents enercy wasted, but involves the creation of difficulties between the commissioner and the local authorities.

2. The planning of tho site should be dealt with, and as the construction ot tho roads and sewers cannot be entered upon until a plan of lay-out has been approved, local authorities should be encouraged to speed up the preparation of estate development plans, which should be in full accord with modern ideas of town planning, both in regard lo amenity and economy, and should therefore be prepared by a competent architect or surveyor. Further references are also made to lay-out plans.

3. The proposals of the local authority with regard to designs and types of houses and cognate matters should bo submitted'to the district commissioner and be dealt, with in the same way as the lay-out plan. When the proposals of Hie local authorities as to the types and designs of houses, rents to be charged, and other points have been finally settled, they should be sent on to the Central Department for anproval. and arrangements should then bo made for the holding of a public iimuiry by a housing inspector sent by the Central Department.

In the "British Trade Keviow" of January an article emphasises the need for learning modem languages in order to carry on commerce successfully with foreign countries. Inquiries made showed that many foreigners were employed by "British firms as clerks, travellers, and ngents. A report recently published in London mentions that British clerks found competent in foreign correspondence were not infrequently regarded as irreplaceahle, and therefore were not promoted to better positions.

Lord Dundonald has bought the estate of Lochnoll, Argyllshire, from the Cnini)liells of Lochncll, in whose, family Hie tho property has remained since the fifteenth cenfrnry.

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