London Docklands Developement Corporation

Causes and Consequence of the Decline

Causes

improvements in technology, largers ships and containerisation led to the closure of the docks and huge job losses in the area

Consequences

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Improved Transport - central London could be reached in 10minutes, 29km of light railway, Jubilee Line Underground network extension

Employment - financial and high-tec firms were attracted to the low rates (The stock exchange for example) -> Unemployment fell from 14.2% to 7.4%

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22,000 homes were built (many were luxury flats) and 10,000 local authority homes were refurbished - Newham council focused on low-cost, affordable housing projects -> the resident population doubled form 39,400 to 85,300
New Services - shopping centres, sports centres, University of East London Campus, Marina for watersports and numerous parks
£100 million spent on health, education, job training and community programmes
West Silverton Village is a self contained community of 5000 people

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Local Housing Associations - obtained house improvment grants
Newham Council - built low-cost housing, upgraded older properties and improved local services
LDDC - responsible for planning and regeneration of the dockland
National Government - created the Isle of Dogs Enterprise Zone -> reduced rates, gave financial help, enocuraging private investment - especially transport nfrastructure
Propert Developers - built large office blocks such as Canary Wharf
conservation groups- planted trees and used other schemes to improve the environment

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Locals couldn't affrd the expensive flats
shortage of low cost housing
jobs in high tech firms were few in number and required skills not held by former dockers
newcomers and original esidents rarely mix
close-knit community was broken up
not enough services such as Hospitals and Care for the elderly was provided in an ageing and growing population

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