For decades The Valley was derelict ignored and unloved. It was known as London’s privy workshop and backyard. The Lee Valley was London’s working river. The Valley housed railway sidings rubbish dumps gravel pits sewage works and factories. These factories produced explosives furniture chemicals railway engines and electronics. They used the easterly winds to blow fumes away from central London.
The Valley’s transformation began to gather pace during World War II. Sir Patrick Abercrombie’s 1944 Greater London Plan suggested a great piece of regenerative planning. He envisioned the Valley as a regional reservation. After the war the idea lay dormant. Then in 1961 Alderman Lou Sherman Mayor of Hackney took up the challenge. He persuaded seventeen other local authorities to support him. In 1963 the Civic Trust appraised the Valley’s potential.
The Civic Trust’s report was positive. A Bill was promoted in Parliament. This established the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. The Authority was given responsibility for the Valley’s development. After Royal Assent in December 1966 the Authority was constituted on January 1 1967. The Authority transformed the Valley. Rubbish dumps gravel pits scrap yards and industrial sites became award-winning open spaces. The Valley now attracts more than eight million visitors annually.
The Valley is a 26-mile-long park. It includes three London 2012 legacy venues. There are popular sports and leisure venues heritage sites marinas gardens riverside trails and campsites. It’s a green lung for the region a playground for Londoners. This regeneration boosted local economies. The Valley is at the heart of the London Stansted Cambridge Growth Corridor. Today The Valley offers everything from white-water rafting to precious open spaces. You can even ride the London 2012 Olympic velodrome. There are miles of walking running and cycling routes. But the work is not complete. The park continues to grow and evolve. The Valley’s story is one of remarkable transformation. It’s a testament to vision perseverance and the power of regeneration.