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Future London
Futures
Past - Failed Plans Down The Ages
It's well known that London
is a city that has grown in fits and starts without the benefit
of too much in the way of grandiose planning schemes.
Indeed, even many of those
schemes that get as far as the drawing board are often ripped
up before brick has been introduced to mortar. As early as 1580,
local authorities set the conservative tone of future years by
banning building on new foundations within three miles of the
city. But some brave souls down the ages have nevertheless tried
to impose their visions on an unwilling city.
Indeed, London's haphazard
development style was nearly put on the back burner in favour
of a grand scheme some 300 years ago. Devastated by the Great
Fire of 1666, central London was ripe for redevelopment and the
leading architect of the day, Christopher Wren, designer of St
Paul's Cathedral, tried to get a classical style unified scheme
approved.
However, Wren had reckoned
without the petty rivalries of the many private landowners who
ruled the London roost and his much praised plans bit the builders
dust.
A broadly similar opportunity
for a city makeover presented itself after the Second World War
with parts of London laid to waste by the Blitz. But, once again,
private landowners effectively stalled local government plans.
Throughout the century, new
roads have been built in London but at nothing like the rate
seen in other big cities. Many road schemes have fallen foul
of both government parsimony and local resident protest, including
the once much vaunted inner ring road, the extension of motorways
into the centre of town and the plan to build a motorway right
across London, under the River Thames.
London's one true unifying
planning marvel, the Underground system, has seen some of its
more fringe schemes go down the tube. In the 70s there were plans
to extend the Victoria Line south to Croydon and in the 80s Croydon
was the focus again as advanced plans were made to split the
Northern Line in two in order to extend to the south London borough.
Now Croydon, apparently fed up with waiting for a train, is building
its own tramlink service.
But the animals of London Zoo,
at least, may have reason to be grateful for London's lack of
planning zeal. Not so long ago, the Zoo was earmarked for a theme
park make-over, a beastly travesty that fortunately foundered
through lack of funds.
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