Implementation

Events & Meanwhile Uses

Providing the space to host events and festivals in the docks can be a way to build interest in what the site has to offer to the local community and visitors. Ensuring a timetable of year-round events is organised and well publicised from the start can greatly activate the space and begin to make it a destination for the community even before regeneration has begun.

Local Produce Markets

Provide spaces for local businesses to sell their produce and offer services

Festive Markets

Establish more tourist-focused markets that still provide local business space to sell

Cultural Events

Celebrate the diverse cultures of the local communities to show our inclusive vision

Fairgrounds & Festivals

Celebrating the arts and the creativity of the local community through festivals and music

Neighbourhood Street Parties

Ensuring new residents integrate with the new communities around them

Meanwhile Uses

Before & Start Regeneration

Temporary Events

Festive markets
Local business and produce markets
Cultural festivals

During Regeneration

Temporary Open Spaces

Meanwhile events continue
Use of tactical urbanism approaches to develop more inviting public realm once place is established as a destination
Street parties and local community groups established to host and run events to help new local residents integrate better with their community

Post-Regeneration

Events Continue

Permanent market fixtures, potentially a market hall taking cues from Covent Garden
Festivities and community events continue in a permanent yet adaptable and inviting public realm
Attempts to strengthen community engagement through community groups such as gardening, art classes and workshops, support groups and cultural festivals

Examples of Events

Barking Riverside

Newham Unlocked

Barking Riverside

A new large community is currently under construction just east of the Royal Docks at Barking Riverside. In order to improve community integration and cooperation as well provide space to host and advertise local businesses, the developer has ensured numerous events have taken place including:

Barking Made Festival: A winter festival showcasing local small businesses selling gifts and crafts, food and produce. This took place in cooperation with a resident's events panel, a group of local residents who work with the developer to propose events that will engage the community.

Emerge East Festival: This delivered a day of activities that took people on a journey exploring local creativity and produce with street food vendors, and a local business market. The day also included nature walks, stargazing, music and children's activities. This was delivered again by residents.

Emerge East Festival at Barking Riverside, 2022

Newham Unlocked

The Newham Unlocked Festival is a yearly summer event that tours the borough in various locations. Events include: roller skating, street food, stage performances, creative workshops and a local market. The diverse culture of the borough is explored with music and performances by local residents from a range of different backgrounds.

Newham Unlocked is also a year-round collaborative cultural programme that provides opportunities for all to participate in various cultural activities.

The Albert Dock could become a location for which to host the Unlocked Festival to better integrate it into the cultural life of the borough and draw residents to the area.

Music event at Newham Unlocked Festival

Issues Addressed

Linking physical and social regeneration

Ensure an inclusive community is created by establishing cultural events and activities that represent all residents
Establish a place that is vibrant and activated with a year round calendar of markets, festivals and fairs that make the dock front a hub of activities for the borough
Markets provide opportunities for local business to establish prominence, showcase and sell their products

Pandemic cities

Covid-19 highlighted the importance of outdoor spaces as well as the need to establish greater community ties and residential links. Hosting events provides the opportunity for residents to fell a greater part of their community

Inclusive Community

Place Identity

Local Opportunities

Issues Addressed