LAP 4
Where is it?
LAP 4 has two wards:-
- St Katharine`s and Wapping
- Shadwell
Who lives
there?
LAP 4 has a diverse community. The resident
population of the two wards is 23,323 (2001) of which:
- 22% of residents are aged15 or under,
(Tower Hamlets: 23%)
- 2% of residents are aged over 74 (Tower
Hamlets: 3%)
What’s it
like?
Housing
LAP 4 is largely a residential area, the
housing being predominantly high-density social housing in Shadwell
with the Council, THCH and East End Homes being the main landlords.
In St Katharine`s and Wapping, there is far more private housing,
particularly along the riverside, where converted warehouse
buildings and new apartment blocks have created a significantly
upmarket residential area. Elsewhere in the ward, social housing
remains significant but overall the ward is one of the least
deprived in the borough. Social deprivation in Shadwell ward is
more severe.
Commerce
There are pockets of commercial activity in
the LAP, generally in areas adjacent to the main roads through the
area. Much of this is service industry based. There are a few light
industrial sites remaining; however, these are declining.
Parks and green spaces
St Katharine`s and Wapping ward has several
good quality parks (e.g. Wapping Gardens) and open spaces as well
as the amenity of the riverside and the canal walkway, that cuts
through the ward between Hermitage Basin and Shadwell basin. Whilst
Shadwell has less open green space amenities, King Edward VII
Memorial Park is a good quality medium-sized park.
Community and voluntary sector
There is a relatively small but active
voluntary and community sector within the LAP which has a local
focus. To ensure the sector is able to contribute to improving the
quality of life locally, LAP 4 has recognised the need for it to
develop and build its capacity. It has, therefore, commissioned a
LAP Development Officer to specifically support this work.
Future of the
area
The western side of LAP 4, between the City
boundary and Wapping Lane/Cannon Street Road, is likely to
experience significant change over the next 10 – 15 years. It falls
within the City Fringe area and has been identified by the Mayor as
an opportunity area in the London Plan. The financial and ancillary
service industries will expand into the City Fringe area bringing
with it a substantial number of new jobs and retail and hospitality
industry opportunities. It will also bring new residential
communities and opportunities to provide improved local amenities
and services, such as primary care health services.
The City Fringe area action plan can be
found at
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/data/planning/data/planning-policy/data/ldf/data/dev-plans-docs/data/Area-action-plans.cfm
Briefly, it aims to stimulate the local economy to tackle
deprivation, whilst respecting the local heritage and cultural
diversity of the area by ensuring that new development benefits
local communities through improved facilities and jobs and a
balanced supply of family homes and smaller residential units to
meet local needs.
Within the City Fringe area, the News
International site is likely to be redeveloped in future years. It
is proposed that the site will be developed as follows:-
- office development at the western end;
- the remainder being predominantly
residential,
- a major new healthcare facility; and
- revitalisation of the listed Tobacco Dock
to provide new leisure and tourism opportunities.
Further residential development is
anticipated in the remainder of LAP 4, which is likely to be a
mixture of new affordable housing and market level housing for sale
or rent.