When it was an industrial area Docklands was noisy and dirty. Dockers and stevedores stood on the quays begging for work, and if they didn't get any some of the lucky ones had allotments so they could grow food to feed their family. If no money was coming in, the lack of transport in the area meant they had to get on their bikes to find work.

The working conditions were terrible, with blue asbestos a frequent cause of problems. And with commodities arriving from around the world, employees quite frequently found themselves without the right equipment for the job, or even to protect themselves. Dealing with poisonous snakes and spiders as well as rats was all considered part of a day’s work. The strikes that were held by workers seeking better conditions were never reported properly by the media.

The decline of the docks was prompted by the Port of London Authority’s decision to encourage ships to come in at Tilbury and other ports. It had been felt that bringing the ships to London was costing too much.

With the loss of the container ships, the demise of the Docklands continued, with scant attention paid to the areas beyond Tower Bridge or in the East End and Docklands.

The area itself is rich in history, with the Isle of Dogs said to have been given its name by the royal hunting parties that sent their dogs there, so they were left in peace in nearby Greenwich.

Canary Wharf was named after the Canary Islands, as that was where its cargoes of apples, oranges and bananas came from. Also indicating the richness of local history, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s ship the Great Eastern was built on the Isle of Dogs, while the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to America from Virginia Wharf.

That was the old Docklands, but times have moved on. Recent changes date back to 1981 when the London Docklands Development Corporation was established by then environment secretary, Michael Heseltine.

These days there are better transport links, with more buses, the London Underground’s Jubilee line, the Docklands Light Railway and London City airport. Other plans on the drawing board include the much-needed bridge going over the River Thames at Beckton, and the development of Crossrail with a line reaching into Newham.

In addition to the ExCel Exhibition Centre and an international rowing course, there has also been a drive to improve quality of life. There are more open spaces such as Barrier Park looking onto the Thames flood barrier, and different types of housing with a mixture of apartments, penthouses, council housing, shared ownership, and housing association buildings producing a mixture of different residents.

After its first heyday and subsequent years of decline, Docklands is now a challenge to Westminster and the City of London. But the tough years left a bitter legacy, with such ill will among residents that thought was given to renaming the area as “Eastminster” as a snub to those had ignored it.

Recent developments mean business leaders now have access to high-class developments, large buildings with high ceilings, a clean area, good views, a pleasant environment and lots of restaurants. With companies able to see the many advantages of the area, it has seen investment from large companies from Japan, Canada, France, Sweden and more besides. In effect, it is a throwback to the old days, but in a different format.

Docklands is a new and vibrant city that continues to gain momentum. And while the Docklands Development Corporation left in 1998, the three local councils are continuing the regeneration with the support of the London Development Agency and the government.