About Lewisham Deptford
St Paul's Church, Deptford High Street
The constituency of Lewisham Deptford stretches from the northernmost tip of the London Borough of Lewisham, down through Deptford and New Cross to the centre of Lewisham itself. It comprises the seven wards of Brockley, Crofton Park, Evelyn, Ladywell, Lewisham Central, New Cross and Telegraph Hill.
Although it might be dismissed by some as a typically problematic inner city area, Lewisham Deptford is in fact vibrant, diverse and steeped in culture and local history.
Deptford High Street, for example, is one of the oldest and longest in London. Its buildings date back two centuries and were catalogued by the Royal Commission for Historical Monuments in England (now English Heritage). It is also home to St Paul’s, a magnificent Queen Anne church completed in 1723.
Deptford Market, held on the High Street every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, offers a huge selection of goods, including fruits and vegetables from around the world.
Behind the Pepys Estate, the old naval buildings on Deptford Foreshore afford panoramic views across the River Thames. The evocative atmosphere makes it easy to imagine the busy shores of the river at a time when it was full of ships bringing exotic goods into the city from around the world.
Although it might be dismissed by some as a typically problematic inner city area, Lewisham Deptford is in fact vibrant, diverse and steeped in culture and local history.
Deptford High Street, for example, is one of the oldest and longest in London. Its buildings date back two centuries and were catalogued by the Royal Commission for Historical Monuments in England (now English Heritage). It is also home to St Paul’s, a magnificent Queen Anne church completed in 1723.
Deptford Market, held on the High Street every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, offers a huge selection of goods, including fruits and vegetables from around the world.
Behind the Pepys Estate, the old naval buildings on Deptford Foreshore afford panoramic views across the River Thames. The evocative atmosphere makes it easy to imagine the busy shores of the river at a time when it was full of ships bringing exotic goods into the city from around the world.
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Despite being an inner London constituency, Lewisham Deptford also has a number of parks and green spaces for the residents to enjoy. Hilly Fields Park, for example, provides excellent views of Lewisham and currently holds a Green Flag award for excellence, along with Eckington
Gardens, Brookmill Park, Telegraph Hill Park, Ladywell Fields and Cornmill
Gardens.
The area is also home to one of the most vibrant artistic communities in London, with the high profile Deptford X arts festival, many open studio events and numerous local people involved in the creative sector.
The area is also home to one of the most vibrant artistic communities in London, with the high profile Deptford X arts festival, many open studio events and numerous local people involved in the creative sector.
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Regeneration Under the Labour Government
Despite its many good points, Lewisham Deptford sadly remains one of the most deprived constituencies in Britain. Severe housing problems and widespread poverty remain, but I have worked with Lewisham Council to tackle these issues and help resolve some of them. The previous Labour government's policies of social inclusion were also designed to improve such areas and there have been massive regeneration programmes in the constituency over the last 10 years or so.
For example:
Despite its many good points, Lewisham Deptford sadly remains one of the most deprived constituencies in Britain. Severe housing problems and widespread poverty remain, but I have worked with Lewisham Council to tackle these issues and help resolve some of them. The previous Labour government's policies of social inclusion were also designed to improve such areas and there have been massive regeneration programmes in the constituency over the last 10 years or so.
For example:
- The Silwood Estate, which had some of the most pressing problems, was awarded £110 million of Single Regeneration Budget funding, which helped to build 554 new homes and refurbish a further 119.
- The Kender Estate has seen 437 existing council properties refurbished to provide new kitchens and bathrooms, windows, doors and improved door entry systems. 467 new homes have also been built.
- The Sundermead redevelopment has seen 96 new homes built so far and construction has started on a further 108 homes.
- The Honor Oak and Pepys Estates have also seen a major refurbishment with new homes built.
- £45m from the Labour government's New Deal for Communities (NDC) was spent on regenerating the New Cross Gate area. After ten years the NDC has now been succeeded by the New Cross Gate Trust, a charity set up to promote regeneration and community development for the people of New Cross Gate and the surrounding area.
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Opening the Waldron Health Centre
Healthcare & Education
Numerous health facilities were also built in the constituency through Labour government spending, including Lewisham Hospital's newest wing and new GP surgeries such as the Waldron Health Centre on Amersham Road in New Cross and the St John's Medical Practice on Loampit Hill in Lewisham.
Thanks to the Labour government’s schools building programme, Lewisham Council has spent £320m rebuilding or refurbishing all of its secondary schools, along with four primaries and six special educational needs schools. Many of these schools are located in Lewisham Deptford: Brockley Primary and Deptford Green are due to move into new buildings in 2012; Addey & Stanhope, Gordonbrock Primary and Prendergast Hilly Fields are all due to have extensive refurbishment and/or expansion work completed in 2012 or 2013; and Prendergast Vale, a brand-new school, is due to open as part of the Prendergast Foundation in 2012. There are also plans to refurbish and extend Crossways 6th Form Academy.
In partnership with Tidemill School, Lewisham Council also planned and developed the Deptford Lounge. Before completion the school decided to become an Academy (a move which I opposed) but it now occupies part of the building. The library and community facilities are council-run.
Numerous health facilities were also built in the constituency through Labour government spending, including Lewisham Hospital's newest wing and new GP surgeries such as the Waldron Health Centre on Amersham Road in New Cross and the St John's Medical Practice on Loampit Hill in Lewisham.
Thanks to the Labour government’s schools building programme, Lewisham Council has spent £320m rebuilding or refurbishing all of its secondary schools, along with four primaries and six special educational needs schools. Many of these schools are located in Lewisham Deptford: Brockley Primary and Deptford Green are due to move into new buildings in 2012; Addey & Stanhope, Gordonbrock Primary and Prendergast Hilly Fields are all due to have extensive refurbishment and/or expansion work completed in 2012 or 2013; and Prendergast Vale, a brand-new school, is due to open as part of the Prendergast Foundation in 2012. There are also plans to refurbish and extend Crossways 6th Form Academy.
In partnership with Tidemill School, Lewisham Council also planned and developed the Deptford Lounge. Before completion the school decided to become an Academy (a move which I opposed) but it now occupies part of the building. The library and community facilities are council-run.
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Visiting the Convoys Wharf site
Private Redevelopment
Major private redevelopment projects have also been taking shape across the constituency in recent years, illustrating the broader regeneration of the Lewisham area. The biggest project is still on the drawing board - Convoys Wharf in Deptford, which has a foot print the size of the South Bank.
A major redevelopment is also planned for Lewisham town centre, which partly falls within the constituency. Due to be completed by 2016, the ‘Lewisham Gateway’ scheme is a £250 million project designed to create more jobs and homes, as well as shopping and leisure facilities in Lewisham town centre. The aim of the project is to improve the quality of life for all of Lewisham’s inhabitants.
Major private redevelopment projects have also been taking shape across the constituency in recent years, illustrating the broader regeneration of the Lewisham area. The biggest project is still on the drawing board - Convoys Wharf in Deptford, which has a foot print the size of the South Bank.
A major redevelopment is also planned for Lewisham town centre, which partly falls within the constituency. Due to be completed by 2016, the ‘Lewisham Gateway’ scheme is a £250 million project designed to create more jobs and homes, as well as shopping and leisure facilities in Lewisham town centre. The aim of the project is to improve the quality of life for all of Lewisham’s inhabitants.
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Improvements to Local Services
Alongside its major investment in regeneration, the Labour government also made significant improvements to policing in Lewisham, enabling the establishment of the borough’s 19 Safer Neighbourhoods Teams. The police work closely with other agencies, such as the Lewisham Community Police Consultative Group and the Neighbourhood Community Safety Service, to discuss the issues which matter to local people.
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A further result of Labour government funding was the setting up of numerous Sure Start children’s centres across the area. These centres are intended to provide advice, support, early years education and childcare for parents of children under 5. Tragically many Sure Start centres have become the victim of Coalition cuts, but an up-to-date list of service is available on the Lewisham Council website.