Dockland regeneration Flashcards
1
Q
- economic successes with the dockland regeneration( opportunities urban change)
A
- unemployment had fallen from 14% to 7.4 with a doubling in employment and numbers of businesses;
- transport revolution - opening of the Docklands Light Railway in 1987 - now carrying 35,000 passengers a week;
- £7.7 billion in private secotr investment
- 2,700 businesses trading
- major new roads including link to the M11
- Building of the City Airport in the former Royal Docks (500,000+ passengers a year)
- attraction of financial and high-tech firms,
- TV studios and newspapers such as The Guardian now have offices in the prestigious Canary Wharf business complex.
2
Q
- failures with the dockland regeneration(urban change challenges)
A
- there were criticisms that despite the improvements many of these didn’t benefit the original ‘eastenders’ - ‘anti-LDDC’ graffiti
- many locals were unable to afford the high costs of the new expensive houses / flats (still a lack of low-cost housing in the area)
- despite an increase in jobs with new businesses coming in, most required skills that the old Dockers did not have;
- reduction in community spirit that the old Docklands had - with the ‘yuppie’ newcomers not mixing with the eastenders
- Transport improvements such as the tube and railways - services did not run after 6pm on weekdays and not at all on weekends - this did not benefit the locals
3
Q
- was the regeneration of the docklands successful
A
- more trade for local shopkeepers
- cheaper rents here for large companies yet still the benefit of only being 10 minutes from central London
- a wide range of economic, environmental and social benefits (see above) - including 22,000 news housing units and 1000s of new jobs.
- greatly improved accessibility in and out of docklands
- addressed the once failing land, housing and commercial property markets in the area.
4
Q
- government actions to stop the economic decline (urban change challenges)
A
at the heart of the Docklands lies Canary wharf, dominated by high-rise office blocks that are now home to many international banks. over 100,000 people work there and, together with the city of London, Docklands has helped establish London as one of the world’s leading financial centers.
5
Q
- social successes with the dockland regeneration
A
- £10 million spent on improvement council and housing association homes
- a total of 22,000 new homes built (mainly private ownership with approx 19% for rent)
- conversion and gentrification of old warehouses to new homes
- New shopping centre built - including 4,600sq metres Asda Superstore and refurbishment of shopping parades - also included transformation of old dockland buildings into shopping outlets (e.g. Tobacco Dock)
- Large new shopping centre at Canary Wharf with over 30 shops
- many restaurants, pubs and cafes built
- Docklands Sailing and Water sports Centre
- £100 million spent on health, education, job training etc.
6
Q
- reasons for Londons decline (urban change has created challenges)
A
- Large container ships could no longer get up the River Thames to the Docks to unload
- A new container port was built further down the river
- As a result by the 1970s the area had become derelict, with few jobs, few services, and poor living conditions. Many people were forced to leave the area to look for work and a better quality of life.
7
Q
- environmental successes with the dockland regeneration (opportunities with urban change)
A
- a network of pedestrian and cycle routes through the area with access to the river and dock edge through waterside walkways
- the creation of pedestrian bridges
- the creation of new open spaces (150ha)
- Water-based Ecology Park and London’s first bird sanctuary at East India Dock Basin - one of 17 conservation areas set up
- the planting of 200,000 trees;
- the area has now received many awards for architecture, conservation and landscaping
