Deptford Greenlights Major Student Accommodation Project to Address Rental Shortage
Lewisham Council has unanimously approved ambitious plans to construct 605 student rooms alongside 50 affordable residential units at Sun Wharf beside Deptford Creek in South East London. The decision comes as borough officials emphasize the urgent need to free up private rental properties for local residents.
Development Details and Housing Mix
The comprehensive development proposed by student accommodation specialist Your Tribe will replace existing structures with buildings ranging from 3 to 20 storeys. The residential component includes 32 social rent homes and 18 shared ownership properties, creating a mixed-use community along the creek.
This approval marks a significant shift from previous plans for 220 conventional homes approved in August 2023, which were abandoned due to regulatory changes and viability pressures. The current scheme represents a strategic pivot toward addressing specific housing market dynamics in the area.
Addressing the Rental Crisis
Phoebe Juggins from Your Tribe presented compelling data during the planning process, noting that available rental properties in Lewisham have declined by 35 percent over the past decade. "If students in the area are forced into private rented accommodation," she explained, "this has knock-on issues for the wider housing market."
The development is projected to free up approximately 242 homes currently occupied by students, making them available to other residents. Juggins emphasized that the project represents "efficient use of a prominently located and underutilized Brownfield site" while delivering sustainable, high-quality accommodation.
Resident Concerns and Daylight Issues
Despite receiving 253 letters of support during public consultation, the plans also attracted 61 objections, primarily focused on impacts to neighboring properties. Two residents voiced strong concerns during the Strategic Planning Committee meeting on February 24.
One nearby resident warned that approval would set "a deeply troubling precedent" due to significant reductions in daylight and sunlight reaching existing homes. Another described the potential impact in stark terms: "If this development goes ahead as planned, I will essentially lose all natural daylight. The only way I would be able to see the sky is if I physically lean out of the window and look up - it's like living in a shoebox."
Local ward councillor Dawn Atkinson, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Housing Select Committee, expressed reservations about whether student accommodation addresses the most pressing local needs. "What is needed very much in Deptford is family homes," she stated. "Student accommodation and student flats are not equal to family homes, which are in dire need in Deptford."
Planning Balance and Unanimous Approval
Planning officers concluded that the public benefits of the scheme - including addressing the student accommodation shortage, freeing up rental properties, and delivering affordable housing - outweighed identified harms such as daylight reduction. Their recommendation emphasized the broader housing strategy context.
When the vote was called, councillors proceeded to grant planning permission unanimously, signaling strong institutional support for this approach to managing housing pressures in the borough. The decision reflects growing recognition that student housing solutions can play a crucial role in addressing wider residential market challenges in London's competitive property landscape.
