London Docklands - Regeneration

Canary Wharf 2023 - By 1979 the London Docks - once the biggest port in the world - were empty and derelict. I made this film with Desmond Wilcox (the presenter and VO) commissioned by the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) in 1998 - Battle for Docklands - the story of the LDDC. In 1979 one 10th. of London had been abandoned. From London Bridge to Woolwich mile upon mile of empty space and dereliction - 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". It was an "enterprize zone" outside the control of the local authorities such as Newham and Tower Hamlets and 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. It became a new and thriving quarter for London. Although not all plain sailing - recession, 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 - a regenerated, historic district of London with a new future. My(c) is a spoiler only. See shorter clips if you can't spare 52 minutes! LDDC 1 https://youtu.be/eWkmDyEN70U LDDC 2 https://youtu.be/aenprJ8FRhU LDDC 3 DLR and City Airport https://youtu.be/RlSjupeSPUA You might also find this interesting - The Daily Telegraph's move from Fleet Street to Isle of Dogs in the 1980s Daily Telegraph https://youtu.be/a8lWlZA1L_U