Our Story
More than three decades of caring for the water
From our formation in 1989 to the present day, the story of Royal Docks Waterways is one of quiet, consistent dedication. We have maintained one of London’s most significant bodies of water through changing times, growing into an organisation with the mandate and the ambition to shape what comes next.
London’s Royal Docks were built in the mid-19th century – a marvel of Victorian engineering. An average of thirteen metres deep and 4 kilometres long, they cover an area the size of Central London. They closed to commercial vessels in 1981.
Now this unique area is coming back to life in spectacular fashion and London’s Royal Docks are well on the way to being a vibrant and exciting waterside destination. Royal Docks Waterways is one of many organisations responsible for making it happen.
The Royal Docks Management Authority Limited (RoDMA) was formed in 1989 by the London’s Dockland Development Corporation as a not-for-profit organisation. It was granted a 225-year Water Management Lease by the London Docklands Development Corporation on 28th September 1990.
The Lease has since been varied on a number of occasions. It was granted to secure the future management and maintenance of the docks, in contemplation of the winding up of the Development Corporation.
The Royal Docks have always demanded expertise, patience and long-term thinking. What has changed is the scale of the opportunity now in front of us.
Scott Derben, Managing Director, Royal Docks Waterways
As defined in the lease RoDMA’s income is derived from two sources. The first is monetising activities carried out in the docks. The second is a service charge for the cost of maintaining the docks levied on the landlord and its tenants around the docks.
It was never envisaged that RoDMA would be in a position to make any profit. The costs for managing the infrastructure far outstrip the income received, so the risk and refurbishment tasks are planned over a rolling 30 years basis and money is accrued in a surplus fund to take on the bigger tasks which cannot be met in-year.
RoDMA has made an overall profit since circa 2012. In recent years this has increased, so that we are matching the income received from service charge. This means we have been able to carry out most of the refurbishment or replacement of the small to medium projects.
This includes the removal & refurbishment of the four huge pumps in the Impound Station (without removing the roof); the Connaught Bridge drive motors and bridge jacks; the drive motors of the Bascule Bridge; the control systems for all bridges and locks; four of the six sluice gates in KGV Lock; the difficult in-water repair of the Outer Lock Gates granite cill; and the complete refurbishment of the Craft Lock on Albert Island.
In 2026 the Greater London Authority granted an amendment to the lease which now enables RoDMA (now trading as Royal Docks Waterways) to invest in developments on the water.
This is the next chapter for the organisation which provides the potential to deliver a true destination on the water and provide funding to refurbish all the middle ticket projects and contribute to the bigger ones.
Get In Touch
We’re keen to hear from you, whether it is about pursuing an opportunity, or finding out more as a local stakeholder or resident.
Leave your name, email and organisation (if relevant) and we’ll keep you posted with updates.