London Docklands Redevelopment (1981-1998)

• Who was responsible for the regeneration process


  • LDDC was responsible for the planning and redevelopment of dockland areas
  • National government created Isle of Dogs enterprise zone in April 1982 - offered incentives such as grants etc to encourage private investment
  • Property developers responsible for building large office blocks
  • Local housing association obtained home improvement grants
  • Conservation groups
  • Newham Council
• Environmental regeneration: 1981-1988


  • Network of pedestrian and cycle way built
  • Provided access to river and dock edge through waterside walkway
  • Creation pedestrian bridges
  • Creation of new open spaces (150 ha)
  • Water-based ecology park
  • London's first bird sanctuary - East India dock basin
  • 200,000 trees planted
• Economic regeneration: 1981-1998


  • Unemployment fell from 14% to 7.4% with doubling in employment and numbers of businesses
  • Docklands light railway opened in 1987 - now carries 35,000 passengers a week
  • £7.7 billion in private sector investment
  • 2,700 businesses trading
  • Major new roads including link to M11
  • Building of city airport - carries 500,000 passengers a year
  • Canary Wharf attracts financial firms with TV studios
• Social changes


  • £10 million spent on improving council and housing association schemes
  • Total of 22,000 new homes built
  • Conversion and gentrification of old warehouses to new homes
  • New shopping centres built including 4,600 square metres Asda superstore
  • New large shopping centre at Canary Wharf with over 30 shops
  • Docklands sailing and watersport centre
  • £100 million spent on health, education, job training etc
• Successes


  • More trade for local shopkeepers
  • Cheaper rents for large companies yet it is still only 10 minutes from central London
  • 22,000 new homes and 1000s of new jobs
  • Greatly improved accessibility in and out of docklands
  • Addressed the once failing land, housing and commercial properties of the area
• Criticisms


  • Despite the many improvements made, few of these benefited original 'Eastenders'
  • Many locals were unable to afford the high costs of new, expensive houses and flats and there is still a lack of low cost hosing in the area
  • Despite an increase in jobs with new businesses coming in, most required skills that old dockers don't have
  • Reduction in community spirit with 'yuppie' newcomers not mixing with Eastenders