LAP 8
Where is it?
LAP 8 has two wards:-
- Blackwall and Cubitt Town – this covers the
eastern side of the Isle of Dogs and the eastern half of
Blackwall.
- Millwall – this covers the western half of
the Isle of Dogs
LAP 8 is one of the most instantly
recognisable parts of London – it appears at the beginning of each
TV episode of East Enders. It is surrounded on three sides by
the river Thames. The Isle of Dogs (or The Island, as it is known
to many) is the area south of the Blue Bridge (across the entrance
to South Quay on the east) and ‘traffic light roundabout’ at the
western entrance to South Quay. However, LAP 8 follows the
ward boundary and extends north to Aspen Way in Limehouse and as
far north as the A13 (east India Dock road) in Blackwall.
Tower Hamlets Town Hall sits in LAP 8, as does
Canary Wharf.
The north and the south of the LAP have very
different quantities of open space. There is very little in
the northern half, whereas the southern half has Mudchute Park and
Farm, Millwall Park (the original site of Millwall Football Club)
and Island Gardens and Sir John McDougal Gardens, both of which sit
on the banks of the Thames.
Who lives
there?
LAP 8 has a rich and diverse community. The
resident population of the two wards is 24,831 (2001) of which:
- 17% of residents are aged15 or under,
(Tower Hamlets: 23%)
- 1.8% of residents are aged over 74 (Tower
Hamlets: 3%).
Character of the
area
Much of the character of LAP 8 is shaped by
the recent redevelopment of the former docks. Over the last
20 years the area has changed almost beyond recognition,
particularly with the arrival of Canary Wharf and the development
of former industrial sites along the edge of the river.
Housing
With the exception of Canary Wharf, the area
is predominantly residential. Housing in the area is varied
and contrasting. It includes the former dock workers cottages
of the Chapel House conservation area, the housing estates of the
60s and 70s (such as the Samuda, St Johns, Barkantine and Schooner
estates), small scale low rise developments of the 80s and early
90s and large riverside gated developments.
Retail
In common with the rest of Tower Hamlets,
there is no defined town centre. However, there is a large
Asda Supermarket towards the middle of the Isle of Dogs and the
increasingly significant regional shopping centre of Canary
Wharf.
Networking amongst service providers
As LAP 8 is a tightly defined geographical
area, this enables very good networking and cooperation between
community based service providers. An example of this is
Docklands Youth Services, which brings together most of the
organisations in the area that provide services for young
people. This type of networking has resulted in improved
joint planning and delivery of services which has increased the
range and choice available to young people.
Future of the
area
LAP 8 falls within the Isle of Dogs
development area. This area will therefore continue to experience
significant growth over the next 10 – 15 years. The area action
plan, which is currently out for consultation, amongst other things
aims to:-
- continue the growth of the area as an
international business area
- ensure local people gain increased access
to employment opportunities that this presents
- ensure a balance between family and
non-family sized accommodation.