Urban Development Corporations (UDC)

• 1980's context:


  Economic focus - focus on UDC's, wanted to create 'entrepreneurial culture'

  Private sector - coalition boards set up, attract private sector to invest in UDCs

  UDCs - boards mainly comprised of local businesses, communities and government investment

  Top-down approach - government down
• EXAMPLE: London Docklands (1981-1998)

  • 8.5 sq miles of London
  • Was previous derelict 'wasteland' brownfield site
  • Docks prevent smuggling
  • Isle of Dogs > close community
  • 6,000,000 tonnes of cargo/ year
  • Previously isolated community > only one bus a day
  • ↑ containerisation
  • Used to be largest docklands in the worl

  > Now £300 million invested

  > Established by Heseltine under Thatcher's Conservative gov

  > Part of Docklands set up as 'enterprise zone'
• EXAMPLE: London Docklands ~ successes:

  1. 2,400 businesses, £12 billion investment from private sector secured, employment ↑ by 150%, nearly 200,000 jobs created, vibrant business area
  2. LDDC created a cheap light rail scheme > improve infrastructure > area more accessible to public > 300,000 use light rail/ week, Jubilee underground connected to Docklands
  3. LDDC tapped into a boom in air travel by creating small business airport. London City Airport was fast-growing & popular, 500,000 use it/ week
• EXAMPLE: London Docklands ~ failures:

  1. The Property-led approach did little to tackle social problems related to unemployment from docks closure. Local people had little say in the development (top down)

  >Labours plan for council housing rejected

  >New properties aimed at young, skilled single graduates

  2. ↑ social division 'Yuppies' moved in to work in high tech tertiary

  jobs, not something unemployed dockers would be suited to > ↓

  community spirit > outsiders moving in > locals moved out

  3. 'Ghost town' feeling, lack of retail & entertainment so quiet at

  weekend