Canning Town and Custom House

Located on the South-West of the Borough, Canning Town and Custom House have traditionally been industrial areas, ever since the construction of Royal Victoria Dock in 1855! The closure of the docks changed all that. Most of the heavy industrial companies either moved out of the area or simply closed, resulting in severe unemployment in the area.

After years of stagnation new businesses and industries are finally moving to the areas, encouraged by the development of Canning Town Station into an important transport hub. Canning Town and Custom House have a key location, linking Stratford and Royal Docks, as well as being connected to the City and Canary Wharf by the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway.

By 2005 the area will be directly connected to London City Airport and by 2008 to Woolwich on the South side of the Thames by extensions to the DLR.

Regeneration, combined with the influx of new companies, will not only radically change Canning Town and Custom House but will do much to support regeneration in the rest of Newham and the rest of East London.

Canning Town Partnership

A partnership between local people, businesses and Newham Council, the Canning Town Partnership was set up to oversee a £100 million plan to revitalise Canning Town and Custom House through a variety of regeneration programmes.

St Luke's Community Centre

This wonderful 18th Century Church has once again taken its place at the centre of community life with a new purpose.

Pitstop

A genuinely unique project, Pitstop is a working MOT station and garage, training socially excluded 16 year olds as car mechanics. Partly self-sustaining, Pitstop gives young adults a chance to learn skills that can directly lead them to a job.