5.3 Changing Places- London's West End

Describe the East End prior to deindustrialisation

Until the 1970s, they were the UK’s largest docks. Dockworkers and their families lived nearby; they were poorly paid, and much of their housing was social housing rented from local councils.

What caused the decline of the docks?

Container ships became larger, and huge cranes replaced the traditional workers to unload them (mechanisation)

Describe the East End prior to deindustrialisation

Until the 1970s, they were the UK’s largest docks. Dockworkers and their families lived nearby; they were poorly paid, and much of their housing was social housing rented from local councils.

What caused the decline of the docks?

Container ships became larger, and huge cranes replaced the traditional workers to unload them (mechanisation)

What were the impacts of the docks closing?

The last of the original docks closed in 1981. Between 1978 and 1983, over 12,000 jobs were lost, and in the 1981 census, over 60% of adult men were unemployed in some parts of East London. The riverside consisted of abandoned docks, which was not good for the city’s image. Nearby industries closed because they relied on the imports and exporting finished products.

How did population change?

Between 1971 and 1981, the population of the East End fell by 100,000

What is the LDDC?

The London Docklands Development Corporation, which was a government agency that focused on encouraging growth. It brought key players together, such as property owners keen to purchase land, architects, construction companies, and investors. It was known as market-led regeneration, and was incentivised by tax breaks on new buildings

How was economic growth brought about?

Canary Wharf (where the docklands used to be), is London’s second Central Business District. There was a rise in employment, particularly in high paying jobs. Every day, 100,000 commuters travel there, as well as 325,000 who work in the city

How has new infrastructure aided regeneration?

There have been new transport developments, which have included extending the Jubilee Line on the underground, developing the DLR, building new roads (Limehouse Road Link), and creating London City Airport to provide access to the City and Canary Wharf for business travellers.

How have the population changed?

Many older people have moved out, and have been replaced by a much younger generation (working age). The ethnic composition has changed due to large-scale immigration, and Newham is now London’s most ethnically diverse borough.

How has the housing changed?

Much of the housing in the East End transferred from the public to the private sector, due to the government’s Right to Buy scheme, which has meant that lower’income people have been forced out. Many of the old warehouses have been transformed into expensive and desirable housing

What problems remain?

People in poor health are often unable to work, and are concentrated in what remains of low-cost social housing. This has led to higher deprivation in Tower Hamlets and Newham. Tower Hamlets has the lowest average life expectancy in London (77 years)