§ 17. Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLEasked the Minister of Health whether, and to what extent, tenements of equally good design are dearer than cottages per square foot of floor area; what is the reason for the difference; and whether he will issue model plans and specifications to local authorities of urban areas?
Sir H. YOUNGWorking class tenements of from three to five storeys cost ordinarily from 12s. to 15s. per square foot of floor area. The comparable figures for cottages of one or two stories are from 7s. 6d. to 9s. The difference is due largely to the greater cost of foundations and heavier construction of buildings of more than two storeys, and also to the comparatively small demand for tenements, resulting in less specialisation in this class of work. Many model plans of cottages and tenement buildings and a model specification for cottages have been issued, and 990 further plans are at present under consideration. The advice of the technical officers of the Ministry is always available to local authorities.