Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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Canary Wharf stands as one of the most recognisable parts of London’s skyline. It is a bustling centre of business and a home for thousands of Londoners.

But 50 years ago, this part of our capital was in a state of disrepair. In the 1970s, London’s docklands lay largely derelict – a result of second world war bomb damage and rapid changes in the shipping industry.

Rolf Merchant explains how we transformed the Docklands - and how we can do it again.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Start
00:30 - The Housing Crisis
01:12 - The History of UDCs
3:35 - Liverpool
04:25 - London
5:03 - Our new UDCs
6:58 - How To Improve on Previous UDCs
8:20 - End