In the early 1900s there were over 150,000 jobs in Greenwich and the Thames had been the focus of industrial activity for years.
By the late 20th century Greenwich was suffering from a severe economic recession - male unemployment was at 60%, around 144,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared, 80% of Council housing stock was in need of repair and 1,100 acres of land in the borough was contaminated. There was a fear of crime and violence and Greenwich had the worst health inequality in London.
Major public investment was needed to reverse the catastrophic decline in Greenwich, along with a strategy for change...