Canning Town and Custom House is a highly accessible location in London and this £3.7billion project aims to transform the area physically, socially and economically with up to 10,000 new homes and two improved town centres.

See the Canning Town and Custom House Masterplan

Transport links

Canning Town has exceptional links into Central London with the Jubilee Line and two new Docklands Light Railway lines that will link to Stratford International Station. Custom House has been earmarked for the proposed Crossrail. London City Airport is in close proximity to Canning Town and Custom House with direct connections to most European business destinations.

The rationale behind regeneration

Canning Town and Custom House are in the top five per cent most deprived areas in the UK with local people suffering from poor health, low education and poverty. In recent surveys, 17 per cent of the local working-age population have a limiting long-term illness, 17.5 per cent claim income support and 49.7 per cent of 16-74 year olds were identified as having no formal qualifications.

Along with our partners and the wider community, we regard this project as an opportunity to address these issues. The planned redevelopment of Canning Town and Custom House is a unique opportunity for London's East End to establish a new benchmark for housing design and live-ability.

Transformation

Work has already begun on transforming a largely deprived community into one of the most dynamic multi-tenure mixed community areas in London. There has been an exceptional level of developer interest in the clear opportunities the area has to offer.

We are committed to achieving a positive and lasting transformation of the physical and social environment of Canning Town and Custom House and improve the quality of life for both existing and future residents.

Other support

External support for the project is also very strong with the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), English Partnerships, London Development Agency (LDA), Greater London Authority (GLA), together with a consortium of housing developers and registered social landlords all registering their commitment to realising the vision of Canning Town and Custom House regeneration.

There will be a wholesale transformation of the area that includes:

• More and better new homes for families
• The replacement of poor quality housing
• Homes for sale, shared ownership and rent at affordable levels
• The creation of more jobs with access and training for local people
• New shops and a supermarket
• New office space
• Improved links between the bus and rail station and the surrounding area
• New or improved schools, health, leisure and other community facilities
• Improved connections across the A13
• Better quality streets and open spaces
• A new, integrated safer street network and townscape
• Work space for local small and emerging enterprises

Jobs and community infrastructure

There are plans to link local training and employment to the large-scale construction project being undertaken, including establishing a construction related training facility in the area.

Combined with new community facilities, including a library, a health centre and improvements to two primary schools, the aim is to transform the social, educational and health environment for all residents.

Community consultation

Community consultation plays a key role in much of the work.

A partnership board between councillors, residents, local businesses and partners provides an ongoing consultation and governance mechanism.

The views of residents and businesses is central to the development and delivery of the regeneration initiative and developers will be expected to continue with extensive community consultation and engagement as part of their remit.

Urban design

The current character of Canning Town and Custom House is typified by its loose and dispersed urban structure, with poorly defined public spaces and a confused layout of suburban streets.

We are keen to encourage re-interpretations of London's established street and housing forms, especially terraced housing, which continue to have enduring popularity with all types of residents including families and children.

Aspirations

Our aspiration will be to create an improved town centre at the core of a vital mixed tenure neighbourhood pioneering new standards of housing design. Canning Town and Custom House will become a destination for those who wish to enjoy the modernism and vibrancy of London's East End. The place will be as welcoming to newcomers, as it is to those who already reside in the area.

It will be particularly attractive to the dynamic multicultural community of East London. Tomorrow's Canning Town and Custom House will strive in its ambition and aspirations to match those of the visitors and athletes that will join us to celebrate the 2012 Olympic Games.