The Thames at Thamesmead is a mix of new build apartments and industries; many of the latter are by the river so they can move materials in and out on ships on the high tide. A number of moored barges sit idly on the water but at night carry much of London’s rubbish to tips and incinerators. The view over the river from Thamesmead is dominated by a huge guillotine structure that is the Barking Creek flood barrier; this was built at the same time as Thames Flood Barrier and protects the Roding River. This urban landscape is likely to continue to change as industries retreat and apartments rise.