Culture to unlock potential of Royal Docks

Work has begun to develop an ambitious cultural and community programme as part of the massive Royal Docks regeneration scheme in East London.

The Royal Docks Enterprise Zone has the potential to deliver 35,000 new jobs, 4,000 homes and more than £5 billion of inward investment by 2037/38. As London's only Enterprise Zone, the Royal Docks has a special government designation that means new business rates in the Zone are reserved and reinvested into the area. This will enable £314 million of regeneration over the next five years and the area is set to become a distinctive location for business and culture.

Detailed plans for the cultural and community programme are being drawn up by the Royal Docks team and will be unveiled next year. This will include a public art project across four sites - with the community and stakeholders being consulted on - and a project on the history of Custom House.

All business rates generated in the Enterprise Zone are retained and reinvested in the Royal Docks by LEAP, directly benefitting local people and businesses.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said 'raising the profile of the area among investors and companies looking to relocate, as well as engaging residents and understanding what kind of growth and development they want to see, is a crucial part of the groundwork for this project's long-term success.

Nearly 50,000 people visited Royal Victoria Dock this summer to enjoy a 'pop-up' beach, a 22-meter swimming lido, a sun-deck, street food stalls, film screenings and musical entertainment courtesy of the Mayor of London's Busk in London initiative.