THE EARL OF MEATHasked Her Majesty's Government, Whether it is true that the Metropolitan Board of Works, in opposition to the wishes of the Vestry of St. Marylebone, have sanctioned, contrary to the Act 29 Geo. II. c. 88, buildings to be erected on the south side of the Marylebone Road, east of Seymour Place, encroaching 35 feet upon the 50 feet from the margin of the road within which distance, by the above Act, it is illegal to build; and, if so, whether they will take steps to prevent the Metropolitan Board of Works from permitting the Marylebone Road to be thus narrowed, and the limited amount of breathing space within the Metropolis from being diminished?
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Viscount CRANBROOK)said, that personally he was unable to enter upon the discussion of the question; but he had been asked to read a reply which had been furnished by the authorities concerned. An application was recently made on behalf of the Committee of the Samaritan's Free Hospital, Marylebone Road, for permission, in rebuilding the hospital, to advance the frontage of the building to a line at the centre 15 feet and at the wings 19 feet back from the public way. As the Vestry of St. Marylebone objected to the proposal, the application was referred to the Building Act Committee for consideration. The Committee, having regard to the objects and public character of the institution, thought that the building might be enlarged without injury to the adjacent property, and the Board, on the recommendation of the Committee, granted the application. Since the permission of the Board was given, the Vestry of St. Marylebone had requested the Board to reconsider their decision, and the parties interested had been invited to attend the next meeting of the Building Act Committee, which took place on the 27th instant. That was today.
§ House adjourned at Seven o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.