Over a year on from a Convoys Wharf stakeholder meeting I hosted in Deptford, Convoys Properties Limited (CPL) are moving forward with their plans for community engagement. To this end, CPL (who are owned by Hong Kong investment company Hutchison Whampoa), have instructed west London based community engagement agency Forty Shillings.

At the meeting in June 2019, CPL representative Jonathan Sarfaty insisted the intention was to rebuild and work on their community forum, whose proposals would be presented to CPL’s Cultural Steering Group. I believe Forty Shillings will be leading on this, establishing this forum and a separate Youth Forum for residents aged 11 to 18.

Forty Shillings explained their approach in a recent email: “Deptford is a very diverse community and we want to engage with residents and local groups as widely as possible.  We are therefore establishing a Community Forum to hear the views of those who live, work and study in Deptford.  The Community Forum will provide local residents the opportunity to share their views on the project.”

It is vital that the local community takes this opportunity to guide the development. I urge Lewisham Deptford constituents to sign up here; www.convoys-wharf.com/community-forum and contribute to the forum.

The agency are also opening virtual consultations to the community, where you can ask questions and leave feedback. Dates so far as follows:

• Heritage Strategy and Plot 12 Consultation – Tuesday 3^rd November 2020, 7 – 8pm
• Cultural Strategy and Consultation – Tuesday, 1^st December 2020, 7 – 8pm

Sign up here to attend: www.convoys-wharf.com/community-webinars

I understand this information was distributed by post to households and businesses local to Convoys Wharf and so I hope many constituents are already aware of the consultancy.

As I have frequently said, it will be very disappointing if this huge development goes ahead without sufficient benefit for the local community through the provision of affordable housing. Earlier plans for the site are in desperate need of a refresh in light of the changing needs of the UK and London. I hope my constituents can take the time to tell CPL and Forty Shillings what that looks like for them.