BENCHMARKS 1989-2000 July 27, 2001

FEATURE PAGE /benchmarks.htm

Accommodation. From three hotels in 1981 to 24 and five more in the pipeline, London Docklands offers accommodation from hostels to five stars and includes a marina timeshare condo alongside Canary Wharf.

Air links. London Docklands own international airport provides services to 20 European cities for over one million passengers a year, with expansion plans to treble the number of passengers.

Commerce. From a Docks related industry and commerce, which had closed down by 1981, the area has been transformed into the third business district of London and the world’s biggest media and internet centre.

Docks legacy. After 150 years as the world’s greatest port, London Docklands saw the last ship depart in 1981 as trade moved to containerisation and 30 miles downstream. It left behind 10,000 jobless people and 5,000 acres of derelict and decaying wharves.

Docks concept. Enterprise, imagination and a far-sighted and co-ordinated approach to design transformed Docklands into one of the world’s most exciting examples of urban regeneration. It has married the best from the past with futuristic architecture.

Homes program. 19,000 new homes have been built and occupied and £178M (US$293M) has been spent on new, refurbished or replacement housing for local residents. Refurbished waterfront warehouses nestle alongside the newbuild best of international housebuilders.

Investment. Nearly £12 billion (US$19.2 billion) of public and private sector investment has enabled London Docklands to reach a critical mass that will help it to become The First City of the 21^st Century.

Job creation. 3,000 companies provide 85,000 jobs in 27 million square feet of newly constructed commercial space in five separate business districts. Half the jobs are new, half are relocations.

Open space. Despite its urban location Docklands boasts more open space than any other part of London. Miles of Docks and a ten mile stretch of the River Thames provide spectacular open views. 100,000 trees planted, new parks and city farms add to the greenery.

People draws. There are 50 museums, galleries and historic buildings ranging from Victorian sewage station and city farms to the Tower of London (oldest) and the Millennium Dome (newest). The Meridian Line runs through the heart of Docklands.

New quarter. It has taken less than 20 years to transform 877 hectares of derelict land and 55 miles of waterfront into a thriving new quarter of London, complete with its own highway, river and rail links, international airport and Europe’s two biggest buildings.

New roads. 100 miles of new roads connect all five districts of London Docklands with each other and with the rest of London and Britain’s national motorway network. The Limehouse Link is the world’s most expensive road at £94M (US$156M) per kilometre.

Rail links. A £900M (US$1.49 billion) computer-driven light rail network links all business and residential districts of Docklands to the rest of London via rail interchanges at Canary Wharf, Stratford, Lewisham, Canning Town and The City.

Retail malls. From no shops in 1981 to five shopping districts today, London Docklands has been transformed in the retail sector by big name retailers opening up, often in multiple locations. All retail served by the Docklands Light Railway and/or Jubilee Line and car parks.

Telecoms. Docklands hosts the world’s key telecommunications infrastructure, powering phones, data and the internet. BT’s satellite teleport and C&W’s satellite earth station have been joined by Telehouse, secure base for 1,000s of internet servers and disaster recovery.

Tourism record. The waterside attractions of Docklands bring in 2.6 million visitors a year with most of them using the elevated Docklands Light Railway to admire the stunning architecture and discover the historical gems, markets and watering holes.

Urban design. Planners have successfully blended modern, high-tech architecture with heritage sites to produce an effective and award winning balance of stimulating development and rich character. There have been 65 top architectural and conservation awards.

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