The London Docklands Development Corporation under Reg Ward and the Emergence of Canary Wharf: 1981-87

Senior Lecturer Dr Jack Brown’s PhD thesis draws on over 100 interviews and previously-unseen archival material to tell the story of the regeneration of London’s Docklands, driven by Michael Heseltine’s development corporation. It traces the origins of the pivotal Canary Wharf development, challenges widespread myths and assumptions about its origins and the politics and policies that led to its successful emergence. It highlights the importance of key individuals, alongside the role of the state in facilitating urban regeneration.