£314m regeneration of London’s Royal Docks given green light

The delivery plan of the 112-hectare Royal Docks Enterprise Zone was signed off by the board of the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP).

It is hoped that 4,000 homes could be built on the site, whilst generating 35,000 jobs and attracting more than £5bn of investment.

The planned investment is to be carried out over five years from 2018/19 and the Mayor hopes will revive the area as a ‘distinctive location for business and culture that nurtures highly skilled and highly productive jobs for Newham residents and Londoners.’

The area now known as the Royal Docks played a crucial role in capital’s economy for more than century from the mid-1800s, before falling into decline in the 1960s and 1970s. The last vessel to be loaded there left the docks in December 1981.

Around the same time, the wider generation of London’s Docklands began, leading to the creation of the Canary Wharf estate, the development of the Docklands Light Railway and the opening of London City Airport in 1987.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: ‘Today marks a major step forward in the development of this site, which has the potential to become not only an important new business destination but also a key part of the capital’s cultural life.

‘I’ve vowed to be the most pro-business Mayor that London has ever had. Through these plans to attract businesses and talent into the Royal Docks, we are aiming to unlock this area’s potential to support the growth of innovative new businesses across all sectors of our economy.

‘The Royal Docks was once an economic powerhouse – with these plans we are aiming to lay the foundations so that it can once again play a crucial role in the life of the capital.’

Lead LEAP member for the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, Colette O’Shea, added: ‘These exciting proposals will help to deliver the cohesive transformation of the Royal Docks into a thriving, culturally rich destination.

‘It is a unique opportunity for the LEAP to invest in affordable workspace, skills and business support, paired with public realm and infrastructure improvements, all in one distinctive location. It demonstrates a great piece of joint working between the Mayor, Newham and the LEAP.’