London Dockland Development Corporation

An example of urban renewal

Where are the docklands?

• Located near the centre of London

• It has a unique waterscape environment of 20 km2 including old docks and wharves of London.

Dockland areas

Historical background

• Built in 17th century to 1921• St Katharine Docks• London Docks • Surrey Quays • West India Docks• Royal Docks

Problems of the Dockland

Decline of dockland

• London's docks were unable to accommodate the much larger vessels needed by containerization and the shipping industry moved to deep-water ports such as Tilbury and Felixstowe.

• Between 1960 and 1980, all of London's docks were closed, leaving around eight square miles (21 km²) of derelict land in East London.

• Unemployment was high, and poverty and other social problems were rife.

Problems of urban renewal

• The situation was greatly complicated by the large number of landowners involved: the PLA, the Greater London Council (GLC), the British Gas Corporation, five borough councils, British Rail and the Central Electricity Generating Board.

Establishment of LDDC

• in 1981 the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was formed.

• This was a statutory body appointed and funded by central government (a quango), with wide powers to acquire and dispose of land in the Docklands.

• It also served as the development planning authority for the area.

Preservation of historical sites

• St. Paul Church (7); West India Dock (12)

Purposes of urban renewal

• It builds a new and visionary metropolitan environment of tomorrow

• It has potential as one of the most attractive living, development and business opportunities in the world today.

The development plan

• Each area is planned to maintain existing local themes

• Also allows flexible development for modern industrial, commercial or residential use

Enterprise zone in Dockland

• in 1982 an enterprise zone was set up in the Dockland

• businesses were exempt from property taxes and had other incentives, including simplified planning and capital allowances.

• This made investing in the Docklands a significantly more attractive proposition and was instrumental in starting a property boom in the area.

Success in 1980s

• a huge area of the Docklands converted into a mixture of residential, commercial and light industrial space.

• The clearest symbol of the whole effort was the ambitious Canary Wharf project that constructed Britain's tallest building and established a second major financial centre in London.

Physical regeneration

• The Government has invested over 200 million pounds to create a modern infrastructure of utilities (water, electricity, gas, drainage) to benefit both residents and businesses

Infrastructure

• New roads• The Docklands Light

Railway• New bus routes and

river bus services• The London City

Airport (domestic flight)

• Satellite earth stations

Economic regeneration

• Offers unique opportunities for residents, businesses and investors

• Major development schemes

• Derelict land, docks and associated industry were transformed

St Katherine’s Dock London Commodity Exchange

Free Trade Wharf &

Tobacco Wharf• Convent Garden

style blend of shops, restaurants and wine bars

Poplar Dock China City

• A commercial, cultural, tourist and trade centre

Economic success of LDDC

• 10 000 new jobs created• 660 companies attracted• Local unemployment fell

by 15% in 1987-88• Canary Wharf financial

centre will employ 50 000 people and be a “Wall Street on the water”.

Total investment

• Government: £400 million of taxpayers’ money

• Only 1/10 of that provided by private sector

Social regeneration

• Over 15,200 new homes had been constructed

• 5,300 homes improved

• Resident population increased from 40,000 to over 60,000

Environmental regeneration• New recreational

and leisure facilities• Utilization of

waterscape features• Trees planted• Green space

provided• Conservation areas

assigned• Waterfront

landscaped

Accusations of LDDC

• luxury developments OR affordable housing?• Yuppy-land?• Rising cost of living• Formed community destroyed• Scheme too late?• New jobs are mainly hi-tech and skilled• Then low-skilled workers?• Noise levels and safety of airport• Lack of hospital and services for the elderly pop

ulation

Links

• http://www.lddc-history.org.uk/index.html• http://www.london-docklands.co.uk/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Docklands• http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/E

ventsExhibitions/Themes/DevelopmentPortDocks.htm

• http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/EventsExhibitions/Themes/Regeneration.htm