The London Docklands

A Brief History

London Docklands

Docklands Today

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Pie de foto: : The Banking HQ

Dock Construction

1855  Royal Victoria Dock built for steam ships. Had direct rail link at quayside

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Late 19th Century

By 1886 - there were 7 enclosed dock systems within the Port of London:-  London and St Katherine's Docks, the Surrey Docks, the West India Docks, the Millwall Docks, the East India Docks, the Royal Victoria Dock, and the Royal Albert Dock.

London docklands- the world’s largest port

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Docklands in the 19th century

•Traditional port activities, e.g ship repairs •Heavy engineering •Food processing •Warehousing •Muddle of factories •Poor housing •New communities

Docklands – 1930s

•55,000 ship movements a year •35 million tons of cargo handled a year •100,000 men employed in Port of London

1960s – decline sets in

•1962 Rochdale report – suggested that smaller docks in heart of London were not viable for the future •Larger docks at Tilbury should be developed

1970’s – dock closures

•As docks began to close numerous plans were put forward by PLA, GLC, various boroughs, etc. •Accepted that Docklands needed renewal •What to do in the face of a planning shambles?

Enter the LDDC!

•Set up by Michael Heseltine to manage Docklands Urban Development Area on 2 July 1981 (following Act of Parliament 1980) •Was an Urban Development Corporation (UDC)

Docklands in 1981

“The place was a tip: 6,000 acres of forgotten wasteland” (Michael Heseltine, 1981)

Aims of LDDC

•Bring land and buildings into effective use •Encourage development of existing and new industry •Create attractive environment with housing and social facilities to encourage people to live and work in the area

LDDC Inheritance

•Catastrophic job losses •95% social housing •Severe dereliction •Poor infrastructure •Poor links with London and UK/Europe •General depression

LDDC powers

•Acquisition of land, including compulsory purchase •Planning autonomy •Powers to renew infrastructure •Channel for government resources

What was achieved by 1998?

•Massive investment by public and private sectors •Over 1,000 acres sold for redevelopment •144km new and improved roads •Docklands Light Railway •24,000 new homes built •2,700 business trading •New health centres, schools, colleges •85,000 employed in Docklands

London City Airport

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Pie de foto: : Opened in 1987

Canary Wharfe

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Pie de foto: : Canada Tower

Docklands Light Railway

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Queen Elizabeth/Olympic Park

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Beckton Housing

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University of East London

Thames Barrier Park

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Thames Gateway Bridge -the future?

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Pie de foto: : A possible development for the future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWkmDyEN70U&ebc=ANyPxKrVO5WBL7zhV8oz72aJk1KKJ4lo3XHvhVC5RMf86rQd2lSxarfMdsywMrHBTuVakOvcq5vrt3DzKOysxiyu6awPhhDB_g (Enclavar)

The Docklands