Manual on the preparation of state-aided housing schemes.

Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Manual on the preparation of state-aided housing schemes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    26. Minor roads intended solely for the purpose of giving access to dwelling- houses should be constructed in a less costly manner than thoroughfares. Economies can be effected on the following lines :— (a) By reducing the width of carriageways and paved surfaces on footways. (b) By adopting a thickness and mode of construction appropriate to the anticipated traffic. (c) By adopting lighter or less costly kerbing and channelling than is often used, or in suitable cases omitting one or both of these. Illustrations of suggested types of roads will be found in Appendix II. 27. As far as possible all drains, sewers, water and gas pipes, and electric-light mains, with house connections up to the boundary of the road, should be laid in before the surface of the carriageway and footways is completed. Fencing. a4 28. In view of the suggested open development, the question of fencing and entrance gates becomes important, both in reference to economy and amenity. Where practicable, walls or expensive types of fencing should be avoided, and hedges should be planted instead. Concrete or other post and wire fences will usually suffice pending the growth of the hedges. Gates may be of oak, which will not require painting. Privacy at the back may need to be secured by a more substantial division fence extending for a short distance from the house. Planting. 29. The permanent attractiveness of the scheme will greatly depend on judicious planting. Trees, shrubs and hedges should be chosen of kinds which are likely to flourish in the particular climate, soil and general conditions prevailing in the locality. They should be placed in positions suitable to the size of their ultimate growth and where they will contribute to some definite effect. Wherever possible, existing trees, hedges or shrubs already growing on the land should be preserved. Drainage of the Houses. 30. In the planning of the site and the disposition of the individual groups of houses upon the land, the question of economy in drainage should be considered. In so far as other considerations will permit, lines should be selected for the roads which will secure suitable gradients for sewers and drains with the minimum of excavation. Economy may also be effected in the placing of manholes by avoiding a too rigid limit of distance apart. In many cases the system of the common drain or sectional drainage will be found simpler, less costly, and better adapted for housing schemes, than the use of a separate connection to the sewer in the road from each house. The following suggestions are made with a view to economy and sim- plicity :— (a) The adoption of the common drain, with one connection to the sewer, which may serve a group or groups of houses. (b) One intercepting trap and system of ventilation for each group. (c) Manholes to be used mainly at the junction of common drains, inspection chambers or rodding eyes being provided to secure the necessary means of cleaning the drains at other points. (d) Connections from the dwelling to be brought into the w.c. branch drain (as near the building as practicable) in order to reduce the number of connections to the common drain. This subject is dealt with more fully in Appendix III. Smaller Urban Schemes. 31. Theabove suggestions have been made especially with a view to schemes of considerable extent, but it will be clear that many are equally applicable to smaller schemes. Very few schemes will be so small that no other requirements than those of the houses themselves have to be satisfied, and few sites so limited that they will not offer some opportunities of which it is desirable to take advantage.