4 Controversial Projects Shaping London
London is constantly changing, but perhaps never quite so intensely as it is now. Many vast redevelopment and gentrification projects are slated for the next five years, and some changes are less than welcomed by some. Here are four projects that are shaping London—but causing a bit of an uproar in the process.
Crossrail
Crossrail is one of the highest-profile infrastructure projects in a generation. The Elizabeth line has already changed the face of London. Platforms at Liverpool Street are complete. A new entrance, footbridge and plaza have opened at Custom House DLR station—providing an interchange between DLR and Elizabeth line service when it opens in 2018. Whitechapel station is taking shape above ground. Milestones have also been reached at Tottenham Court Road and Canary Wharf.
While many people love the convenience of a new transport option, others are chagrined that Crossrail has the potential to change the identity of neighborhoods and will spark an increase in housing prices (up to 36%, according to some sources) that most Londoners feel they cannot afford.
Houses of Parliament Refurbishment
The £7B restoration of the Houses of Parliament is penciled in to start in 2020 and will last at least six years. The MPs will need to be moved—and where is up for debate. A recent YouGov poll found that a strong majority believe the seat of government should be moved out of London, which is probably because most Londoners are fed up with the MPs.
MPs are piqued because they're scheduled to move to a Department of Health building that operates under Islamic law. The property, Richmond House, was transferred to finance an Islamic bond scheme in 2014. Under Sharia law, which governs the bond, alcohol is banned. MPs are complaining that they won’t be able to drink during the workday (let that sink in for a moment). To solve this crisis, the MPs tossed around the idea of nationalising the Red Lion pub to get around the drinking ban.
Garden Bridge
The proposed pedestrian bridge over the River Thames would carry pedestrians between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges. The structure would include planted gardens and a commercial building on the south end. The Garden Bridge would close overnight and occasionally be rented out in the evenings for private events. Critics say the bridge would unfairly benefit the rich since it would be built partially with public money.
Spire London
Shanghai’s biggest property developer plans to spend £800M building the tallest residential building in Europe in Canary Wharf. The super-luxe property offers five-star lifestyle amenities with views of London that will make you weep. But a separate “poor door” entrance for social tenants housed on the lower floors, and elevators that are only for tenants on the upper floors, has some calling foul. The developer has said that the community amenities are for everyone, but the issue of inequality has plagued the development from the moment it was announced.
