London Docklands - Regeneration

Canary Wharf 2023 - By 1979 London's docks - once the biggest port in the world - were empty and derelict.
I made this film with Desmond Wilcox (the presenter and VO) and the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) team in 1998 - Battle for Docklands - the story of the LDDC.
In 1979 one 10th. of London was abandoned. From London Bridge to Woolwich mile upon mile of empty space - both sides of the Thames. Local authorities argued and bickered about what to do and did nothing. So the Government created the LDDC and said "just do it". Outside the control of the local authorities such as Newham and Tower Hamlets it was highly controversial. It 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 and apartments, offices, new businesses and infra-structure. The Jubilee Line and Excel were approved and commissioned.
Although not all plain sailing - recession and 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.
My(c) is a spoiler only.
See shorter clips if you can't spare 52 minutes!
LDDC 1
• London Docklands 1 - t...
LDDC 2
• London Docklands 2 - D...
LDDC 3 DLR and City Airport
• London Docklands 3. Or...
You might also find this interesting - The Daily Telegraph's move from Fleet Street to Isle of Dogs in the 1980s
Daily Telegraph
• Newspaper printing, Fl...

[@meandering99]

Really informative film, thank you for uploading. Some great insights into the politics surrounding major infrastructure investment with some interesting parallels to today's problems with HS2!

[@Theandyhumphreys]

Glad you enjoyed it. In the 90s we made several promotional films for the LDDC before this finale. Here's one - Spirit of Renewal - kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5a2imOuebCcjac&pp=ygUpbG9uZG9uIGRvY2tsYW5kcyBkZXZlbG9wbWVudCBjb3Jwb3JhdGlvbiA%3D Thanks for your interest.

[@thea9702]

This was very interesting. I have been visiting these areas, interesting to see how the development transformed these areas.

[@Theandyhumphreys]

Hello Thea. Helicopter footage from the early 80s clearly shows how derelict Docklands was. Thanks for your interest.

[@Baz-Ten]

Eight square miles! Could have been a perfect area for residential housing *only*