Inside Deptford’s changing future

What was your first impression of Deptford?

It is hard to remember my first impression of Deptford because I first knew it as a child. I can still remember the area before Millennium Quay was built, when it was all industrial land. In a way, I have had many first impressions of Deptford because it has changed so much over my lifetime.

My first adult impression, and especially as a local politician, was how warm and friendly people are. That is what makes Deptford special. There is a real sense of community here, and it cuts across different waves of people who live here. You have people who have lived here for 40 years alongside people who have only just moved in.

If you had to describe Deptford in three words, what would they be?

Creative, changing, friendly. There is a real creative hub in Deptford. You can see that in things like the Deptford X festival, the number of artists who live here, and the studios around the area.

I think the creative spark has been here for a long time. Cheaper studio spaces drew artists in, and that has been one of the drivers of the positive change we have seen, even if some of the less welcome sides of gentrification came with it as well.

What matters is that there are people here committed to a more inclusive approach to the arts. You can see that in community arts projects and in efforts to get local children involved. In many places, creative change ends with older communities being pushed out. I do not think that has happened here to the same extent. There was a point when people feared it would, but thankfully, Deptford has avoided that.

Which place, view, street, or corner best captures Deptford for you?

Probably the corner of Watergate Street. From there, you have the High Street in one direction, Lewisham on one side, Greenwich on the other, and if you turn around, there is the island of calm that is Hughes Fields estate. For me, that point captures several different sides of Deptford at once.

Do you feel people still misunderstand Deptford? And if so, what do they miss?

I think some people have an old-fashioned view that Deptford is a rough place. I do not think that is true. It is a friendly place. Like anywhere, it has its issues, but it is a safe place to live and visit.

Then there is the opposite caricature: that it is all yuppies and super-trendy newcomers. That is part of Deptford, too, but it is not all of Deptford. Like everywhere, caricatures are the problem. I recommend coming to Deptford to see what it is actually like. If you arrive with negative views, I think they change quite quickly.

Part of what makes Deptford special is that it still has a bit of chaos. You go down the High Street, and there is that slightly chaotic feeling, but to me, that is vibrancy. We do not want our communities to become copy-and-paste corporate shopping malls. Deptford is one of the few really living high streets left in London. Yes, there is a Tesco and a Sainsbury’s, but there is a lot more besides: independent shops, the market, and a sense that the place still belongs to the people who use it.

Are there places in Deptford that deserve more attention? Something more people should know about?

The risk of answering that is that they might become very busy. But I have to say the Dog & Bell is my favourite pub. As my name suggests, I do like a Guinness, and they do a good one there. I also think the Vietnamese restaurants deserve a mention, like Viet Rest down the High Street. And Sienna is a hidden gem too, especially in summer when you can sit out by the river and watch the sun go down.

Is there any local building, street, or place with the most interesting story behind it?

The story of Peter the Great and his visit here is fascinating. But Watergate Street is probably the one I would pick. You can see so much of Deptford’s history gathered in one place: the old wall of the shipyard, the Shipmaster’s House, and the cobbles at the end of Wharf Street. If the Shipmaster’s House is open during the Open House Festival, it is well worth seeing.

St Nicholas Church is another one I would mention. It is a real must-see. Not just because of the Marlowe connection, but because it is a lovely, quite simple church inside, and of course, it has those fantastic skulls on the entrance gate.

And I would also say the Hughes Fields Estate. People should come and wander around, because it is a very good example of municipal housing from that great period of public housing. It shows what social housing could be when it was done properly, with good, solid homes and spaces that let community happen. There is still a lot we can learn from that.

You might also have noticed that almost everywhere I’ve mentioned here is in the Greenwich bits of Deptford. Maybe you would expect me to say that as a Greenwich Councillor, but we really do think the Greenwich bit of Deptford is the place to be!

Speaking of social housing, what kind of development would you welcome in Deptford, and what kind makes you uneasy?

More recently, the main pressure has been for student accommodation. We do need student housing, but what Deptford needs most is family housing. At Greenwich Quay, at the mouth of Deptford Creek, there was a proposal for another large student block, which the council rejected. Our local plan identifies that site instead for medium-density family housing, with a mix of social and private homes. That is the kind of development I think we need.

We have nearly 32,000 people on the housing waiting list in Greenwich, while over 30,000 consented homes across the borough have still not been built. Developers often sit on land, partly to speculate on its value and partly because building costs have risen. Meanwhile, the need for family housing remains acute.

The council is trying to build more homes, and Greenwich has been London’s top builder of council housing for the past three years. But even at 1,000 to 2,000 homes a year, we cannot close the gap on our own. Land is too expensive, and the scale of need is too great. The central government has to play a much bigger role.

What are the most pressing environmental issues around Deptford Creek?

Air quality remains a major issue. London’s air has improved overall, but Deptford still has a major road running through it, so reducing traffic remains important. That means more greenery and easier access for people to get around without relying on private cars.

Some relatively small changes have already helped. Closures on streets like Stowage and Prince Street have reduced through-traffic on residential roads. Before that, long tailbacks on McMillan Street worsened pollution and made life harder for residents.

The other big issue is the river itself. We need it to be cleaner so it can feel like a living part of the area again. Groups like Creekside Discovery Centre do excellent work, but restoring the river cannot depend on volunteers alone. It needs stronger regulation and action at a higher level.

What are the possible solutions in terms of public transport? More trains?

It is not just about more trains. Micro-mobility can help too. Hire bikes are important, especially for people who live further from stations but still rely on Deptford or Greenwich as their nearest rail links. Greenwich is introducing mandatory bike bays for rental e-bikes, which should help, and we are also looking at a cargo bike rental trial for shopping and other short local trips.

Buses matter just as much. We need strong local routes, not only faster express services. Things like the Superloop are useful, but local buses that stop where people actually live are just as important, and they need proper funding. Car clubs also have a role to play. Shared cars can reduce private car ownership, which in turn means quieter, safer streets with less pollution and noise.

What in Deptford worries you the most?

I am an optimist, so I try not to dwell on worries too much. But I do worry about what comes next. We are moving in the right direction, and the key thing is to stay the course: making sure new development is community-centred, with family homes at its heart, and not undoing some of the progress we have made on transport and active travel. I would hate to see things like the road barriers removed and the area become a magnet for through-traffic again. Above all, I worry about affordability. It matters that Deptford remains a place people can still afford to live in.

Is there something you would like to change in Deptford?

One thing I would like to see is a more pedestrian-friendly Deptford High Street. I understand why Lewisham Council made the choices it did, but I think it was a missed opportunity. Walking down the High Street on a Sunday, with cars parked along the pavement, does not make for a very good public space. I know traders had concerns, but better-designed streets usually mean people stay longer and come back more often.

What gives you hope about Deptford?

The people who live here give me the most hope. You can see that people care about their community, their neighbours and one another. That spirit endures.

I also find hope in the number of local businesses. They help Deptford maintain its distinctive character, and many are run by people who live here. That says something important about the kind of place Deptford still is.