Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2011 16:00:24 GMT
Oct 2, 2011 19:39:44 GMT @lemmo said:
Why can't they invest in office districts in places out in east london, or west london, or inner south london (such as peckham). If they spent the money there, not only would you get the benefit of reducing social deprivation, but you'd also stop all those commuters having to come in to an already congested fairly-central London.
Totally agree, and we're exploring this over on <London Reconnections>. It deserves lots more discussion...
And I agree with rhubarbrhubarb, it's not just about new lines. Transport policy has to be integrated with development and social policy. But there is little evidence of the 'trickle-down effect' in Docklands and elsewhere...
People should forget trying to shove development to favoured areas, it's a haphazard process. Canary Wharf happened by accident not by design. Docklands was going to be another city fringe area with low rise offices and workshops, full of businesses serving the central core. It was a realistic plan and many thought they'd be lucky to pull it off. But with tight planning rules in the city and the demand for ever bigger office blocks for banks Docklands was at the right place and time. The rise of Canary Wharf panicked the city, which is why you now see skyscrapers rising in the Central London, long after previous consensus that London did not need them to be a successful city.
Previous planning quirks have also affected development. I can't remember the exact date it ended, but there used to be restrictions on new development in London, it was hard to get permission to build a large office building or a new factory. This was all part of government policy to decongest London and move people out to the new towns.
You can see the result everywhere towns and London suburbs full of 50's through early 70's blocks. Where this has worked those towns have continued to build new blocks but many other places are full of these decaying blocks, that have slowly been pulled down or converted to other uses.
All those shitty blocks along the North Circular, Wembley, Tolworth etc. Why did Croyden happen after all. Look at Croydon, massive boom in the 60's and 70's and a slow drip of new buildings since, the market is flat in Croydon, we might see some new blocks rising soon but they will mostly be for existing occupiers.
Your better off improving infrastructure to existing centres. If you can widen an existing areas effective commuter hinterland then you make it more attractive for occupiers and hence developers.
