21 FEBRUARY 1925, Page 15

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Sm,—Much is being said and written about workmen's houses and factories ; but I have seen no reference to an experiment that seems to me the most hopeful of all. In Hertfordshire,. within the area of Welwyn Garden City, 600 cottages are being built and will be inhabited by workmen engaged in what is called Regional Development—one of the "blessed words " of the day. Such work is temporary, but it is expected that in the sequel factories will come to the workman, instead of workmen going to the factories ; and thus the slums will be cleared by this ingenious method of decentralization.—I am, Sir, &c., Wheathampstead Place, Herts.

W. BEACH THOMAS.