Paving the way for change
Will the pedestrianisation of Deptford High Street speed up gentrification?
Since the early 1800s, Deptford has been home to a bustling street market, a go-to destination for locals to pick up affordable and practical goods, everything from clothes to tools to fresh produce.
Social researcher Charles Booth described it as ‘the Oxford Street of south London’ in the 1890s.
Today, while the crowds may have thinned and the skyline changed, Deptford High Street remains one of southeast London’s vibrant thoroughfares.
Noisy, colourful, fiercely independent and largely untouched by the waves of gentrification reshaping nearby areas like Peckham and Brockley.
The high street is currently closed to traffic on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays to allow for the market to be held.
Lewisham council are in the process of reviewing proposals to increase the pedestrianisation of the area from three days a week to seven.
However, some Deptford residents and traders warn that these changes will harm small businesses.
They claim this could accelerate gentrification and threaten the economic and cultural fabric of the area.
What are the proposals?
Lewisham council has unveiled plans to fully pedestrianise the lively thoroughfare between New Cross Road and Hamilton Street, expanding the current car-free hours from three days a week to every day.
The initiative aims to reimagine the historic street as a more inviting, eco-friendly public space.
Proposed upgrades include added seating, new planting, and enhanced safety features extending from New Cross Road to Creek Road.
According to the council, the improvements will make the area more accessible, easier to maintain, and a more attractive destination for both residents and visitors.
While exact timings are yet to be confirmed, all proposed options include closing the street between 11am and 5pm.
Credit: Lewisham council
Credit: Lewisham council
Aerial map view of Deptford High Street, proposed pedestrianisation of the area between Hamilton Street and New Cross Road. Credit: Google Earth
Aerial map view of Deptford High Street, proposed pedestrianisation of the area between Hamilton Street and New Cross Road. Credit: Google Earth
The proposals for Deptford High Street. Credit: Lewisham council
The proposals for Deptford High Street. Credit: Lewisham council
Lewisham council cites a 2024 report by Living Streets, a charity that campaigns for everyday walking, revealing that people who walk, cycle, or use wheelchairs to access shops tend to visit more frequently and, over time, spend more than those who drive.
Through pedestrianising the area, Deptford High Street could see an increase in foot traffic, improved air quality and public health, and a more attractive space for both shoppers and businesses.
With Lewisham having some of the highest levels of independent high street businesses in the whole of London, the council recognises them an important part of the community in Deptford.
High streets that are pedestrianised often experience increased footfall and higher retail sales
- Living Streets report, 2024 -
Deptford traders push back
The campaign group Save Deptford High Street, which is composed of Deptford residents and small business owners, has raised concerns over proposed traffic restrictions in the area.
They warn that cutting off vehicle access could jeopardise the survival of small and family-run shops that rely on regular deliveries and customer access.
Perspectives on the proposed plans, from 'Save Deptford High Street' campaigners and small business owners.
Perspectives on the proposed plans, from 'Save Deptford High Street' campaigners and small business owners.
Neville Johnny, owner of Johnny’s DIY, which has been trading on the high street for 50 years, voiced serious reservations about the proposals.
He’s particularly worried that coordinating deliveries could become a logistical nightmare, disrupting his daily operations, and that restricting vehicle access might significantly reduce footfall, putting his business at risk.
He warned: "This will shut us down in weeks."
Johnny is among 450 local residents, business owners, and community leaders who signed an open letter to Lewisham Mayor Brenda Dacres, urging the council to drop the proposed changes.
Members of the campaign group, Save Deptford High Street. Credit: Darren Halsey.
Members of the campaign group, Save Deptford High Street. Credit: Darren Halsey.
"We’ve survived many issues – covid, the cost of living crisis, and more.
But we will not survive these plans by Lewisham Council."
- Neville Johnny, owner Johnny's DIY, Deptford High Street -
The group also highlights the development of Deptford Market Yard, located beneath the arches of the railway station.
Completed in 2018, the project includes a trendy retail market with 152 homes built above.
The so-called ‘affordable’ element of the scheme consists of just eight shared ownership homes.
The development features a pedestrianised area outside the station complete with al fresco dining options and several higher-end shops.
The group argues that recent calls for further pedestrianisation raise questions about who these changes are really for, and whether they are more about “prettying up the area for developers” than serving the local community.
However, not all local business owners oppose the plan to restrict car access.
Lewisham council maintains that the proposal is informed by a six-week community engagement process carried out in 2023, which indicated strong backing for increased pedestrianisation along the high street.
The council gathered over 2,500 responses during the latest public consultation on the current proposals, which closed on May 14.
The findings are being reviewed.
Councillor Louise Krupski, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Climate Action, said: “Lewisham Council has recently undertaken a robust public consultation to give the community a chance to have their say on our early stage design proposal for Deptford High Street.
“No decision has been made yet, and the results will guide how we progress with the project and we expect to report back to the public in the next few months.
“Since 2024, council officers have been proactively working with Deptford businesses on a one-to-one basis, including a survey, multiple workshops, drop-in sessions, follow up site visits and meetings, so that we could hear their views on the early stage proposals.
“Lewisham has a proud history of celebrating and protecting our diverse communities.
“We work hard to bring people together and make sure no one is left behind in our community."
Brenda Dacres, the Mayor of Lewisham has strongly denied the claims of Save Deptford High Street that these proposals are driven by intentions to gentrify the area.
"Working class people,
like any other group, deserve a nice high street that is clean, safe, has greenery and supports the
local business and market community.
We do not think it is fair to let an area fall into disrepair
because of claims about gentrification.
Gentrification is about pushing and
driving groups out. This is not happening here."
Brenda Dacres, Mayor of Lewisham
Above all, campaigners are calling on Lewisham council to listen to local voices and protect the independent traders who give Deptford its distinct identity.
While many acknowledge that change and gentrification may be inevitable, they insist there is still time, during the ongoing consultation, for the community to be heard and their needs to be prioritised.
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