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Glittering Offices And Old Dockers' Yards An Analysis Of The Regeneration Of ...

Glittering Offices and Old Dockers' Yards
An Analysis of the Regeneration of the London Docklands
Introduction
The 1960s saw a significant decline in commerce in the docklands of London. During this time there was significant research into ways in which the areas could be reinvigorated, and a number of local initiatives were introduced in the 1970s to try and overcome the social deprivation resulting from dock closures. The success of these, however, was limited.
In the early 1980s, the area became a focus as a possible solution to regional issues, with the potential to provide additional space for commercial investment that was not available in any significant quantity elsewhere in the capital. A new approach was implemented, ‘pump priming' the area and relying on the commercial and private property markets to effect regeneration.
The success of the scheme has been widely debated. While the area has been regenerated, the methods by which this was brought about have been criticised for lack of consideration for the population already resident in the area and its needs, nor was the process beneficial to many local established businesses.
Whether or not the project has been successful depends to some extent on the criteria applied. Should regeneration mean the provision of housing and economic opportunities for local residents? Or are the needs of the wider region more important?
This dissertation considers the background to the regeneration of Docklands, the strategies employed to stimulate investment and the long-term results and consequences of these, with the purpose of establishing whether the regeneration was successful, or whether alternative strategies might have been more appropriate.
Background
Consideration of redevelopment and regeneration in Docklands began many years before it commenced. Declining trade at various London ports and dockyards led to a government inquiry in 1962, which suggested expanding Tilbury docks to the east, moving commerce there and redeveloping the more central docks. However, they were not considered suitable for housing or other types of industry (LDDC 1997: 4).
In the late 1960s, East India, St Katherine's and London Docks closed (Brownill 1990: 17), with further dockyards threatened..
First Steps Towards Regeneration
In 1971, in a first reference to ‘Docklands', Peter Walker, then Secretary of State for the Environment, announced a study to be carried out jointly with the Greater London Council (GLC) into the potential of the area (LDDC 1997: 6).
However, the report, submitted in January 1973, coincided with GLC elections and was used as a campaigning tool to criticise the lack of consultation with local inhabitants and businesses. Furthermore, planning consents for the area were suspended during the preparation of the report, which coincided with a period of economic growth (ibid: 7).


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