Britain In Their Sites - Episode 3

Tristram Hunt tells the story of architectural change in Britain over 60 years, tracing the country's changing idea of itself through three controversial public building projects. Tristram tracks the creation of the skyline of Canary Wharf, from the old docks of the Isle of Dogs to the new tall towers of Canada Square, with insight from architects, planners and politicians. The Isle of Dogs was the subject of thwarted regeneration attempts over the years, until in 1979 Michael Heseltine was put in charge of inner city regeneration in Thatcher's new administration. The government created the London Docklands Development Corporation, introduced 'enterprise zones', relaxed planning legislation and axed business rates for 10 years in an attempt to get investors to build on this near-derelict land. But British architects had to stand back and watch as American architectural firms won key contracts for the buildings - that is, until their grand masterplans collapsed in the 1990s when major developers went bankrupt. Today, the skyline of Canary Wharf is one of London's landmarks. Tristram asks what its story tells us about Britain's recent architectural history.