Print

Further regeneration for London's Docklands

Catherine Deshayes

The Docklands area of East London is planning two more major regeneration projects, to the tune of £5.8 billion, which aim to revitalize the area ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

East London has already seen much redevelopment in recent years, including the construction of the University of East London's new campus, which was officially opened by Ken Livingstone on July 4th 2000.

The Thames Gateway project, which covers a stretch of 40 miles along the Thames Estuary from the London Docklands to Southend in Essex and Sheerness in Kent, is being transformed with a £9 billion Government investment.

By 2016, the Government's targets for the Gateway include 225,000 new jobs, through encouraging business and economic investment; 160,000 new homes, including affordable units, which will be supported by high quality transport infrastructure and transport system.

It also includes plans for access to high quality healthcare and improved education facilities for all residents, and major improvements to the image and environment of the Gateway, including high quality design and enhanced green and open spaces.

Now, developers Wood Wharf Limited Partnership have requested planning permission for the Wood Wharf development, adjacent to Canary Wharf.

The £2 billion regeneration scheme will feature six commercial buildings with 4.9million square foot of office space, six residential buildings with room for 1,688 apartments, 210,000 square foot of retail space within a new high street and a 120-room hotel.

It is hoped that the regeneration will create up to 25,000 new jobs.

Further regeneration, to the tune of £3.8 billion, is happening in Canning Town and Custom House. It will include the building of 10,000 new homes and the rejuvenation of the two town centres.

Newham Council expects the areas to be transformed ‘physically, socially and economically.'

Michael Hill, Director of one of the developers involved, Countryside Properties PLC, said, "We are progressing well with Newham Council in taking forward the first phase of the development, which will include 650 new homes and a new primary school."