Regeneration of the London Docklands
Extracts from this document...
Introduction
The London
Docklands
Location
The London Docklands can be found in the east of London between London Bridge and the Thames Barrier.
The London Docks were built between 1700 and 1921 and the Eastend of London developed around the Docks. They were one of the world’s most important and busiest ports for ships and freight before they reached its business peak in the 1960s.
Decline
In 1967 the docks started to decline, a number of reasons were to cause the downfall to one of the world’s greatest trading ports. Before, trade of say coffee happened in bags. The bags were moved from ship to shore by many manual workmen. In the late 1960s containerisation started to happen. This is where great big containers would be crammed full of this coffee, transported on much larger ships, and then be moved from ship to the docks by large cranes. This not only led to a sharp decline in number of jobs available causing huge lay-offs at the docks but it also meant that the London Docklands would lose valuable business.
Middle
Around 40% of land was derelict and in the 15 years before 1981, 150,000 jobs had been lost. The communication network was poor, no rail links existed, roads were few and narrow, and public transport needed some vast improvements. Local residents were deprived of both leisure facilities and basics like schools and hospitals.
Regeneration
Some regeneration of the area started after the end of the war in 1946 but still most of the land was in dire need of repairs.
To directly combat all the problems that the Docklands contained a new scheme was to be set up. In 1979, the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was created. The LDDC had aims that they wanted to achieve in the Docklands; they were basically to improve the economic, social and physical aspects of the area.
To improve the economic aspect of the area they had to create jobs for the unemployed who were living in the Docklands, to do this they had to bring in major companies. The LDDC decided to provide a good infrastructure to the area; they provided the gas, electric, and roads.
Conclusion
With more pubs, restaurants, services and better houses being made available it is now a place that the public want to live in. Urbanisation is staring to happen. A success for sure, as people are moving back into the area realising it has more to offer.

Before the LDDC took over the area looked ugly and run down, but now has been transformed. In all aspects, the regeneration of the Docklands have been a success. Before the LDDC took over the area looked ugly and run down, it is now a strong competitor to the CBD. With careful planning and consideration it has become transformed into an extremely prosperous place for businesses to be.
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