London Docklands - Regeneration

Canary Wharf 2023 - but how did it get there? We made this film in 1998 with Desmond Wilcox (the presenter and VO) commissioned by the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) - Battle for Docklands - the story of the LDDC and the regeneration of London's docklands. By 1979 one 10th. of London had been abandoned. From London Bridge to Woolwich mile upon mile of empty docks, deserted warehouses and dereliction - both sides of the Thames. Local authorities argued and bickered about what to do and did nothing. So the Government created the LDDC to manage Docklands as an "Enterprize Zone" and put it outside control of the local authorities such as Newham and Tower Hamlets. It was highly controversial and had no clear plan - just charged to regenerate, encourage inward investment and react to demand. By the time it closed in 1998 it had created, among other things - the Docklands Light Railway, City Airport and Canary Wharf - a second modern banking centre for London - as well as thousands of houses, apartments, offices, new businesses, jobs and infra-structure. The Jubilee Line Extension and Excel were approved and commissioned. Docklands became a new and thriving quarter for London. Although not all plain sailing - recession, business failures and an IRA bomb attack - the LDDC had shown the world how to regenerate an inner city and today can be credited with starting what the London 2012 Olympics finished. Reg Ward, the first Chief Exec. should have a statue in Canada Square! The film was commissioned as a legacy film for the LDDC as it closed having achieved what it had been set up to achieve - a regenerated, historic district of London with a new future. My(c) is a spoiler only. See shorter clips if you can't spare 52 minutes! LDDC 1    • London Docklands 1 - the LDDC.mpg   LDDC 2    • London Docklands 2 - Docklands.mpg   LDDC 3 DLR and City Airport    • London Docklands 3. Origin of Docklands Li...   You might also find this interesting - The Daily Telegraph's move from Fleet Street to Isle of Dogs in the 1980s - a quick sprint through the history of London docks and Fleet Street and the installation of the most modern newspaper printing facility in Europe. Daily Telegraph    • Newspaper printing in 1980s Fleet Street