IFHP Congress Track 2 : Regenerating the East Eric Sorensen, 11 June 2013
London Geography
Port of London
Docklands Abandoned
Canary Wharf Abandoned
Canary Wharf: 1982
THE 1970s - A LOST DECADE Everyone knew that the old Port of London was progressively closing caused by the container revolution, and moving 15 miles down river; Many studies were carried out about possible forms of new development, but with no resulting action; Possibilities included developing waterside businessses and logisitics, exploiting waterside for recreation/parks, modern commercial and housing development; Elections and Government changes added to uncertainty and caused policy changes;
THE 1970s - A LOST DECADE A municipal led organisation was set up by Government. But this produced a backward looking development plan which attempted to revive business sectors which were in fact declining; Very little Government funding; General pessimism about the future of the London economy, population falling and many business sectors declining.
LDDC Boundaries 5000 acres
London Docklands Development Corporation Government agency with strong Government support, operated within defined geographical boundary, municipal services continued. Single minded, with specific targets - attracting private sector business investment, attracting jobs, promoting investment in homes both owner occupied and for rent, creating better local environment eg new parks. Infrastructure : utilities, roads, public transport, public realm Financed by Government to be infrastructure provider, not to be a developer/business investor itself. Limited time span, therefore LDDC had sense of urgency and speed.
Icons : Canary Wharf Docks
Light Railway
Experimental Landing - 1984
Riverside Walkway
Pumping Station
Canary Wharf 1992
Canary Wharf 2002
Transport Investment & Growth Land use integration Canary Wharf case study 1981 1981 only : only 3000 3,000 workers workers remain remain the in the Docklands Docklands area Area 1987: Docklands : Light Light Railway Railway opens. opens, By by 1995 1995 working working pop. approx. population 13,000 approx 13,000 1999: : Jubilee Jubilee Line Line Extension Extension opens. opens, Crossrail set set to open to open 2017, 2017, enabling further growth. By by 2006 working population pop. reaches reaches c 93,000 densities Working schemes population such as Wood to reach Wharf 200,000 working 93,000 provide demand for JLE c pop. to reach close to 200,000
Why Did Canary Wharf Happen? World economy grew fast in the 1980s, CW agreement with LDDC to develop signed in July 1987; The developer Olympia and York had very successful track record and good at raising construction finance; Rapid expansion of financial services sector; London needed modern large scale office buildings, most existing offices were old-fashioned; LDDC had development sites, supported large scale development, and was willing to provide much better transport infrastructure; Enterprise Zone and tax incentives
Cabot Square - Canary Wharf
Global City FBS to TMT?
Millharbour Isle of Dogs
Providence Wharf - Leamouth
Infrastructure Impacts
A Dividing Highway
Too Much Highway
East of Canary Wharf Sense of Place?
Docklands Royal Docks
Royal Docks
Royal Docks
Thames Gateway
CONCLUSIONS East London regeneration is continuing, long after LDDC closed down. Single minded regeneration organisations are essential to make fast progress. Government finance for infrastructure investment is essential to help create private sector investment confidence.. To ensure that local communities benefit from regeneration there must be cooperation between public and private bodies.
CONCLUSIONS The change from old to new business sectors requires careful support for local communities, especially training for the new job opportunities. High quality design of buildings and places and using basic features of the area ( light rail, water, docks, local history) help give the area a special character. Canary Wharf, and now the Olympics area, are symbols of the new East London, bringing confidence to the wider area.