Pre-SWOT info

Before reading this, please make sure you also read the post outlining tomorrow's meeting.

Pre-SWAT - WHAT WE THINK IS GOOD ABOUT THE SITE:

some good views and potential views of the river; central city airport; plenty of water to play with; some good existing attractions - excel, thames barrier, thames barrier park; mixed land-use; close proximity to canary wharf; easy access to other parts of london; central vista; flat topography; good (transport) infrastructure; airport (eg employment); local schools; big interesting and diverse events at the Excel centre; people drawn into the area from outside; Uni of East London; City Farm; new residential developments; famous and historic site; links to river Lea and Barking Creek; public open spaces; capital ring (walk).

Pre-SWAT - WHAT WE THINK IS BAD ABOUT THE SITE:

traffic congestion; noise eg planes; pollution (traffic and planes); too many visitors sometimes - local infrastructure fails, local people overrun; doubt the sustainable credentials of Excel; not enough services; linear shape; poor legibility within the site and wayfinding information; its a long circuit around the docks; safety issues around the airport; a windy, cold and exposed site; there's a flood risk; little local economic activity; not pedestrian friendly; many buildings like big sheds; lack of habitats; little vegetation development; space broken up into four quarters; its difficult to get to from some directions; not a good view to the other side of the Thames; cannot cross the river; lots of derelict sites; ground contamination; can't get to the riverbank; dominated by roads and cars; very little reason to visit the area; poor links to the olympic park.

Pre-SWAT - HOW WE PROPOSE TO CHANGE THE SITE

Biomass; flood-it; improve/ enlarge the City Farm; introduce pedestrian areas/ public transport; green-up the airport; more bridges; more habitats/vegetation; remove airport (no more domestic flights); drain royal docks (make bigger versions of Thames Barrier Park); Bird reserve at airport; roof gardens and underground gardens; shopping centres; wetland; canal network; glass manufacturing site (the new KEW/ Crystal Palace Exhibition); change the four quarters with circulation routes; improve the views; create direct access to the south bank; improve access to Stratford; riverside walk(s); marinas; river transport; reed beds - water filtration; wooded areas; kitchen gardens; river railway; fish-farming/ seafood; link up to Ebbsfleet; residential areas by the waters edge; exciting new quality architecture.

There's some really good stuff here.

Simon