More than the O₂ Arena - North Greenwich’s impressive regeneration: Photo Essay

I’ve spent a lot of time in and around the North Greenwich area over the past five or so years down to my university being located in the area. When I began, it was little more than the O2 Arena, or formerly known as the Millennium Dome, Ravensbourne University, a Tesco Express and a splattering of chain restaurants alongside a couple offices. Of course, there was also the Emirates Air Line, launched in 2012, which took you across the river to the even more baron Royal Docks/ExCeL area. In all honesty, there wasn’t much to do here and you’d probably end up taking the Jubilee line to Canary Wharf or further west to have some excitement. That has begun to change though. It began in late 2018 with the soft launch of the Icon at The O2. This used the formerly empty space on part of the arena that remained disused since it opened for outlet mall shopping - making it a place to visit, not just for concerts.

This move to entice outlet shoppers to South East London, instead of Bicester or Ashford Designer Outlets, was a smart move for people to grab a bargain. It also led to a number of additional food outlets opening which weren’t part of massive chains as well as the Mamma Mia restaurant-cum-musical.

Outside the O2 Arena is where the area really begins to get interesting. Having been constructed for a number of years, the “Design District” has just recently launched. Dubbed the permanent home for the creative industries with 16 buildings by eight pioneering architects - this seems to be the place that creatives can call home. I was very impressed, and we seemed to have visited at just the right time for an event featuring DJs, market stalls and art exhibits.

The Design District also features a “canteen” that is home to many food outlets, similar to a small version of Boxpark - but with a distinctly green and yellow feel to them.

Polestar, Volvo Group’s electric car division, have even set up shop in the Design District to showcase their stunning vehicle - set alongside the striking modernity of the buildings.

The launch of this new area around North Greenwich coincided with redevelopment towards the Thames Clipper pier - making the area even more regenerated and great to look around. It feels now, two decades since the Millennium celebrations, that North Greenwich is beginning to become more than just a white elephant arena - but a new community in South East London. I really hope that this development along the Greenwich Peninsula continues further and that it becomes a new centre for culture, community and work in the nation’s capital.