§ Mr. LONGasked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if a building lease of a site bounded by Glasshouse Street, Sherwood Street, Brewer Street, and Air Street, in the parish of St. James's, has been granted by the Office of Works. Woods, and Forest to a large firm who had no previous connection with the site; and, it so, will he state the reason why the interests of the present Crown tenants were not previously considered by giving them the option either of renewal of their leases, of obtaining building leases, or of acquiring the same by public tender?
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§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Commissioners of Woods have arranged to grant a building lease of the site in question for the erection of an hotel with a number of shops on the ground floor, and it has been arranged that occupiers of shops now on the site shall have the first option of taking the new shops. The small houses now on the site are of considerable age and the Commissioners were advised that they should be removed, and that for the improvement and development of the Crown property the site should be let for the erection of one large establishment rather than for the re-erection of houses of a class similar to those now existing. With a view to causing as little disturbance as practicable to those of the present shop occupiers who desire to remain on the site a new letting before the expiration of the present leases was expedient.