Former Deptford Tidemill school conversion to housing nears completion

Work to convert a former school at Deptford is now nearing completion.

Former Tidemill school buildings have been converted and in places extended as part of a 209-homes project approved back in 2017.

Parts of the development comprising new-build blocks have already completed and been occupied while work on Victorian buildings was underway.

Tidemill primary school left the site now undergoing conversion and moved into nearby premises on Giffin Street way back in 2012. It’s now known as Tidemill Academy.

Around that time a new square was created alongside as well as Deptford Lounge which includes a library.

Protests were held in 2018 against removal of a garden on site. Lewisham Council then spent £1.4 million on security after protestors were evicted.

Certain original features of the school on Frankham Street have survived including the boys entrance.

It’s only a short stroll from Deptford High Street and the railway station.

Despite yet more homes becoming occupied near a station on the line rail cuts introduced back in 2022 by the Conservative government are being retained again at the forthcoming May 2026 timetable under the Labour government.

With Thameslink’s continual unreliability that’s resulting in just two Southeastern services per hour for much of the day calling at an ever more busier and built up area of inner London. It’s just a decade since Southeastern were running six trains per hour at Deptford station throughout the day.

To compound the problem those trains that are now running sometimes consist of just five carriages during the evening rush hour. It’s leading to severe overcrowding along the line at various points as seen a number of times last week.

Not only are short trains running in the evening peaks but also while football is on at the Valley. All the while more homes are being built from Deptford to Charlton to Plumstead to name but three stations.