Ten Flats, Whittaker Lane Prestwich

PRESTWICH.- At Prestwich a group of cottage flats have been built in Whittaker Lane, near Heaton Park Station, by the Prestwich Model Dwellings Company, Ltd. Each of the detached blocks of cottages contains four flats, and each flat consists of a living room (15feet by 12 feet). a bedroom (12 feet by 9 feet), and a small scullery and food‑cupboard that open out of the living‑room. Each cottage has its own sanitary accommodation. A return of between 3 and 4 per cent, on the capital outlay is anticipated. The dwellings were designed by Mr. Isaac Taylor, FRIBA, of Mansfield Chambers, St. Ann's‑square, Manchester. [Building News 3 April 1914 page 466]

FLATS FOR OLD AGE PENSIONERS - An interesting contribution to one side of the housing problem has been carried out at Prestwich in the cottage flats of which photographs are given above. Ten of these have been built in Whittaker Lane, near Heaton Park Station, by the Prestwich Model Dwelling Company Limited, of which the Rector of Prestwich is chairman. Each of the detached blocks of cottages contains four flats and each flat consists of a living room (15 feet by 12 feet 6 inches), a bedroom (12 feet 6 inches by 9 feet) and a small scullery and food cupboard that open out of the living room. Each cottage has its own proper sanitary accommodation. There is a separate concrete staircase to each of the upper flats, so that it is quite distinct from the flat below. Each of the flats is therefore complete in itself, even to the provision for each of the upper ones of a miniature Abackyard@ (for the drying of clothes) of its own by bridging over the gap between each block of cottages with a concrete slab fitted with railings and tiny posts to bear a clothes line. The flats were primarily designed for married couples of old-age pensioners living together, but the tenants are not restricted to these, The low rent (3s. 6d.per week, exclusive of rates, for each flat) makes them very attractive to others; for instance, to a single woman who has to work for her living but who would like to have a home of her own. It is interesting to note that the dwellings are intended to be a paying concern and not run at a loss or even without appreciable profit. A return of between 3 and 4 per cent on the capital outlay is anticipated. The dwellings were designed by a Manchester architect, Mr Isaac Taylor.  [Manchester Guardian 26 March 1914 page 11]

Reference    Building News 3 April 1914 page 466
Reference    Manchester Guardian 26 March 1914 page 11 with two photographs