§ MR. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)asked the First Commissioner of Works 9 whether it had been called to his attention that the buildings in course of construction near Albert Gate were already higher than the adjoining buildings; and, whether he would take steps to make those responsible for their construction carry out the pledge they gave him last year, that they should not be constructed higher than the adjoining houses at Albert Gate?
§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)Is it not desirable for this purpose that legislation should be introduced similar to that proposed last year by the hon. Member for Chelsea (Mr. Whitmore) giving power to the public authority to limit the height of buildings in London?
§ *THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) University of DublinThe question which the hon. Member for West St. Pancras (Mr. Lawson) asks me is rather an abstract one, and I had rather not give off hand a definite opinion about it; but I think it is perfectly plain that if buildings in London are carried to a height that would cause serious inconvenience to neighbours or to the public generally, some steps should be taken to meet the difficulty. In answer to the question upon the Paper, I have to say that my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension when he states in his question that the builders of the new mansions at Albert Gate had given me a pledge that their edifice should not be carried to a greater height than the neighbouring buildings. What they did undertake was to reduce the intended height of their buildings from 130 feet to 100 feet, and from that undertaking I have no reason to think that they mean to depart Of course, I shall see that it is fulfilled.