History of the London Bridge business district
The London Bridge business district forms part of an area historically known as the Pool of London, which is part of the Thames stretching between London Bridge and just past Tower Bridge.
The area has enjoyed a prominent position in the story of London’s development as London Bridge was the first bridge built across the Thames by the Romans while London Bridge station was central London's first railway terminus.
London Bridge station circa 1900
By the nineteenth century, ships from around the world came to trade in the area, bringing great prosperity to London.
Decline and Regeneration
During the 1960’s the area started to lose its importance as an international port. Containers were unloaded directly onto trucks thereby rendering watermen, lightermen, dock workers and warehousing obsolete. The warehouses and port buildings that had not been destroyed in the Blitz fell into disrepair and the once bustling quayside fell silent.
The 1980’s saw a property boom around London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Developers had the foresight to see that central London needed more room to grow and evolve, and St Martins Property Corporation Ltd developed what is known as London Bridge City, at the heart of which lies Hay’s Galleria – a converted wharf now housing offices and retail units.
Hay's Wharf (Hay's Galleria) early 1980's
In the mid-1990s local landowners had become increasingly concerned with the poor state of the environment and sought to engage the support of other stakeholders and three local authorities with responsibilities in the area to do something about it.
Crown Court and More London site pre-development
This grouping, which became the Pool of London Partnership (PLP), recognised the potential of the area and the need to capitalise on the decision to extend the Jubilee Line through the area in time for the new millennium.
Significant public and private investment in the public realm delivered through the PLP, and the construction of major office developments here, has made the London Bridge business district area an extremely viable place to do business.
Into the future
In 2006 a Business Improvement District (BID) was founded and Team London Bridge formed to manage it, continuing to improve the area and bring the benefits of change to its business community (the PLP ended its activities in March 2007).
Thanks to its central London location, the area continues to evolve, with some of London’s most important development projects being planned for the area.
Architect's impression of new London Bridge station concourse
With continuing involvement and enthusiasm from the business community, our aim is to create services and projects that make London Bridge a world-class place to do business.