Transcript London Dockland Development Corporation

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
population
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/DevelopmentPortDock
s.htm
• http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/English/E
ventsExhibitions/Themes/Regeneration.htm