London Docklands
- Reinventing the Riverside Life
London Docklands is the semi-official name given to the area along the River Thames running roughly from Southwark to Greenwich. The head of this area is generally agreed to be at Canary Wharf, the site of some of the most extensive development and revitalization efforts.
The Docklands area has become a major centre of finance and commerce in recent years, and urban redevelopment has been widespread. It is increasingly becoming a popular place to live as well as visit and shop. Many of the old warehouses and dockside wharves have been converted into luxury flats, and many of the older industrial docks are now being used as marinas and centres for various water sports. Visitors can take walking tours or coach tours of the area, and many of the tours focus on the construction projects and development that is taking place here in anticipation of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Port of London has been in operation for over 2000 years; in the 19th century it was the largest port in the world. As the shipping trade moved to enormous vessels and container ships, they outgrew the accommodations at these historic docks and by 1982 the docks were officially closed. Shortly after this, redevelopment plans began under the auspices of the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC). The area was declared an enterprise zone, which encouraged business investment with incentives like reduced property taxes, capital allowances, and simplified planning requirements. The construction of the Docklands Light Railway which finally created good public transport between this area and Central London was also a huge factor in making this area attractive to developers. It was one of the first light rail systems in the country and now it carries nearly 70 million passengers every year. All of these improvements have not come without controversy; tensions between the long time residents of this area and the newcomers are inevitable. The LDDC has been accused of focussing on developing high rent office space and luxury flats while ignoring the need for affordable housing in the area. The Docklands in London are a good example of a neighbourhood in flux.
Address: Canary Wharf, E16 1AA
Photo courtesy: king_david_uk
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