§ VISCOUNT RIDLEYMy Lords, I rise, in accordance with the Notice standing in my name on the Paper, to ask His Majesty's Government whether the buildings now being demolished in the Quadrant of Regent Street have any defect which necessitates their removal; whether the sites on which they stand are under the control of His Majesty's Office of Woods and Forests; and whether, in rebuilding on those sites, His Majesty's Government will have due regard to the architectural continuity of Regent Street.
I do not think it necessary to trouble your Lordships with any lengthy remarks, because I am anxious more to obtain information than to pass criticism on any action taken in this respect. I do not think there is any need to remind your Lordships of the unique position and the unique features of Regent Street, and especially that part of it known as the Quadrant, which is now under the hammer of the housebreaker. This part of Regent Street is one of the most interesting, I might even say beautiful, architectural features of a town which does not abound in architectural beauties, and I therefore ask, first, whether there is any real and sufficient reason for the demolition of these houses. I ask that question, knowing full well that at the time of their erection by the architect Nash, it was generally stated that they were not well built, and were not of a sufficiently good material to last a long time. A rhyme was current at the time that Augustus had found Rome of marble but had left it of brick, and that Nash had found London of brick and left it of plaster. Therefore, there may be real reason for the demolition of these houses. I ask, secondly, if it is necessary to pull these houses down for architectural or other reasons, whether His Majesty's Government will do their best to see that some architectural continuity, if not the 892 exact facade as now, is preserved in the rebuilding of these houses. There was a parallel case in Paris. Two or three years ago it was proposed to build a large hotel, and the French Government insisted that in the building of that hotel certain architectural features should be preserved. His Majesty's Government have additional right to take action in this matter because, as I understand, the land on which these houses stand is under the control of the Woods and Forests Office. They have therefore a considerable locus standi in the matter. I do not know whether it is completely under their control. I do not know how far the County Council has control over it; but I am sure the County Council would be in every way desirous of considering the architectural features of the metropolis. I hope His Majesty's Government will be able to give satisfactory assurances that in the rebuilding on this site due regard will be had to one of the most important find interesting architectural features of the Metropolis.
*THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Lord WINDSOR)My Lords, I rise, on behalf of the Treasury, to answer the Questions which have been put by the noble Viscount. There are three distinct Questions in the Notice which my noble friend has placed on the Paper. The answer to the first is that the buildings in the Quadrant and in other parts of Regent Street are not considered suitable for modern requirements; they are for the most part not well built, and do not utilise the sites which they occupy to the best advantage. It is, therefore, proposed to rebuild the Quadrant as the present leases expire, or earlier if suitable opportunities occur. The reply to the second Question is that it is quite true that the ground landlords are the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and the answer to the third Question is that it is 893 intended to have regard to the continuity of architectural design. I may add a word in explanation and tell the House that Mr. Norman Shaw has been requested to prepare a design for the whole Quadrant. Mr. Norman Shaw is familiar to your Lordships as an eminent architect. This design is not yet finally settled, but it is the intention of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to rebuild the Quadrant in one design, and not allow buildings of a patchy description. The Commissioners of Woods and Forests are fully alive to the importance of the houses in the Quadrant being rebuilt on the design of an eminent architect, and of the continuity of the buildings and the present curve of the Quadrant being maintained.