Andy Humphreys's video: London Docklands - Spirit of Renewal

Made in 1996 for the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) on the regeneration of Docklands. London had been the biggest port in the world. Docks and warehouses on both sides of the Thames from London Bridge to Tilbury. Then, in the mid 1960s, ships too large for the docks and containers were introduced. The mini warehouses cut the need for docks and within 15 years one tenth of London was empty and derelict. By 1981 something had to be done. Michael Heseltine - Secretary of State for the Environment - established the London Docklands Development Corporation and gave it extraordinary powers to regenerate and ignore local Councils. It closed in 1997 leaving the area with many new assets including Canary Wharf, Jubilee line, the O2, ExCel Exhibition Centre, City airport and thousands of new homes. The area was revitalised and prosperous - showing the world how to regenerate an inner city. The LDDC was controversial and generally shot at by the media. This video features Marketing Director Sunny Crouch who, in 1993, had allowed documentary producer Desmond Wilcox to make a film for ITV on Docklands and the LDDC which highlighted the achievements and praised those behind it. See also: Canary Wharf - London's New Business District - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY-N1_plcMw And The Battle for Docklands - a legacy film on the LDDC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2uAgBOL4GE&t=488s