Why the Royal Docks | Royal Docks

Why choose the Royal Docks?

At over 1,200 acres of land, with 250 acres of water and nearly 12 miles of waterfront, the Royal Docks is the most important and exciting regeneration project in London. Uniquely, it is also the meeting point of two growth corridors, an Opportunity Area, and London’s only Enterprise Zone, making it poised for rapid growth.

Industry giants have flourished in the Royal Docks, including ExCeL, Siemens, and perhaps most famously, iconic sugar brand and cultural patrons Tate & Lyle. They are now being joined by innovative start-ups and SMEs, pioneering the fields of urban tech, finance, fashion and set design – among many others.

Connectivity

Investing in transport has been a major catalyst for regeneration at the Royal Docks. London City Airport’s £500m expansion will extend the Royal Docks’ global links, reaching as far as the Middle East and the north east of the USA. Investment in the DLR network has provided 43 new trains, a new depot at Beckton and significant station upgrades. The Elizabeth Line is now open at Custom House, strengthening our direct links across the city with a 15-minute journey to central London.

Further significant investment in transport infrastructure – including the £1bn Silvertown Tunnel under the Thames, connecting the Royal Docks with Greenwich – is scheduled for the next five years, creating one of the best-connected places in London.

Quality of life

A tranquil yet inspiring place lined with green squares, framed by wide open skies and anchored by 250 acres of water, the regeneration of the Royal Docks is creating an oasis of calm only 15 minutes from the centre of London.

The water itself remains one of the Royal Docks’ most enduring assets, creating a spectacular backdrop for new commercial and residential developments, and providing an active space for a range of events and activities. Millions of pounds are being invested in the waterfront: Creating better access, opening up opportunities for walking and cycling, and ensuring the water remains the heart of the local area.

Talent and skills

The Royal Docks is in the heart of east London, one of the most vibrant, diverse, high-attaining and entrepreneurial districts of the capital. The University of East London, the London Design and Engineering UTC and the Institute for Technology (a collaboration between Newham College and Queen Mary University) are all delivering programmes directly inspired and facilitated by contemporary business needs.

The Royal Docks Team is helping to translate the skills required as part of the new development pipeline directly into projects and programmes, offering real prospects for local people. This has started with the Royal Docks Internship Programme and a Green Skills programme working with Groundwork London.

Enterprise Zone

The Royal Docks is London’s only Enterprise Zone covering 125 hectares and including strategically important land owned by the Mayor of London. Enterprise Zones are designated areas that provide tax breaks and other business incentives, helping to attract substantial foreign investment into the country.

The area has already enjoyed substantial public and private sector investment since it was established as an Enterprise Zone in 2013, and this is likely to reach more than £8bn by 2037/38. 35,000 jobs and 4,000 homes are forecast within the zone, and 60,000 jobs and 25,500 homes in the wider area.

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Where in London?

The Royal Docks lies immediately east of Canary Wharf in the London Borough of Newham, covering over 500 hectares of land and 18.4km of waterfront. Located at the intersection of the Thames Estuary, Royal Docks and Beckton Riverside Opportunity Area, and the UK's Innovation Corridor, this is a large area with enormous potential. The Innovation Corridor ranges north through Kings Cross and the Olympic Park, and up to Stansted, Cambridge and Peterborough — Britain's fastest growing region and a vibrant economy.

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Discover our community

The people of the Royal Docks are integral to designing and implementing a vision that delivers genuine benefits for locals as well as visitors. By aligning our efforts and resources, and encouraging local people to help drive this regeneration, we can ensure that everyone connected with the Royal Docks benefits from the huge changes – through new employment prospects, improved public spaces, better connections with the rest of London, and a stronger and more inclusive sense of community.