London Docklands

what did the London docklands used to be like?

It was once the largest and most successful trading post, origination with the West India Docks in 1802.

what successive docks were later formed?

East India docks, Millwall Dock, Surrey Docks, and then the Royal Docks.

how many people were employed?

thousands

international trade, warehousing and related trade did what to the UK?

made them one of the most powerful and wealthy countries in the world.

what happened during WWII?

the docklands were bombed, crippling the British economy and much of the infrastructure was damaged beyond repair.

what was the state of the LDs in the 1980s?

empty.

why were the docks lost?

due to containerisation.

what did containerisation lead to?

loss of jobs in the area - particularly the men that worked in the shipping industry.

what was built in the 1950s?

Poor tower blocks were built. These were built to replace bomb damaged homes after the war.

what is the tower blocks housing being used for now?

now commonly used as state housing with high levels of crime and deprivation.

what happened to the size of the boats?

because too large to fit and therefore couldn’t move down the Thames. As a result, the docks moved downstream where boats could access.

Between 1970 and 1980, there were…

30,000 jobs lost.

in 1981, how much of the DLs was derelict?

50%

what were the unemployment levels at?

unemployment rate was 21%, with males at 24% which was 2x the national average.

what were the transport links like?

inadequate transport links by both road and rail meaning that people didn’t invest in the area as it couldn’t be accessed easily.

what was set up in 1981?

London Docklands Development Cooperation

AIMS (3)

1. To create an attractive environment.

2. to improve economic, social, environ problems.

3. to encourage the development of existing and new industries.

what were the 4 ways it was regenerated?

housing, local community, transport, environment

H - how many new homes have been built since 1981?

50,000 new homes, and 8,000 local authority homes being improved.

H - what urban village has also been built?

the Silvertown urban village which is situated in the Royal Docks containing 9000 new homes.

LC - how much was spent on environmental and community projects e.g. local parks and gardens.

£20 million

T - when did the DLR open + how much did it cost?

1987 + £73 million

T - where does the DLR operate from?

from Canary Wharf to Lewisham.

T - when did the Ldn city airport open and where is it situated?

Opened in 1987 as well and situated in the royal docks.

T - how many passengers does the city airport handle a year?

4.3 million passengers a year.

T - what was the road called that they built and how much did it cost?

Limehouse link road, cost £450 million.

T - what does the Limehouse link road connect?

connects Central Ldn to the Docklands

E - what happened by 1988? How much was spend on this?

600 ha of land were reclaimed and parks and riverside paths were developed. £300 million was spent on this.

what do the docklands now contain?

some of the worlds biggest banks including HSBC, Barclays.