All Lewisham ward boundaries except two are set to change in plans published today (June 30), while the borough will get two new wards and lose one. 

The Local Government Boundary Commission looks at ward boundaries when the population of electors – residents with the right to vote – changes.

It aims to make sure councillors represent a similar number of people within a borough.   

It’s projected that the number of electors in the borough will go up by about 9,000 to more than 206,000 by 2025. 

The independent body, which has been in talks with the council, has published its final recommendations, which will mean changes for every ward except Forest Hill and Telegraph Hill.  

This Is Local London:

Red proposed new wards, blue old wards

There will be 16 three-councillor wards and three two-councillor wards, including Deptford, Lewisham Central, and Bellingham. 

A new ward, initially going to be named New Cross Gate but changed to Deptford after pressure from the council, lies in the north of the borough. 

New Cross will now be known as New Cross Gate. 

Hither Green will be its own ward, east of Catford South and north of Downham, while Whitefoot will no longer be a ward. 

Tanners Hill Estate was originally going to be split into two different wards, but the commission decided against the plans after a backlash and it will now all be in the new Deptford ward.      

Changes include increasing the size of Ladywell and Blackheath by making Lewisham Central smaller, making Bellingham smaller by including some of the current ward in Perry Vale ward, while Whitefoot ward will be absorbed into Catford South, Downham, and Hither Green.  

The Commission has created an interactive map to see the full boundary changes here

Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the Commission, said: “We are very grateful to people in Lewisham.  

“We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.   

 “We believe the new arrangements will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”    

Parliament needs to agree the changes, and if approved the new arrangements will apply for the 2022 council elections.     

A spokesperson for the council said: “The new Lewisham wards will have an equal number of voters per councillor, which will help make our local democracy even stronger.

“The Boundary Commission has clearly listened to the views of local people, and the council, and have produced a set of wards which, on the whole, captures the many communities we have in Lewisham.

“In particular, we are pleased with the Commission changing the name of New Cross ward to Deptford ward, which avoids confusion with New Cross Gate ward, the new Hither Green ward, which accurately reflects the local community and geography as well as the unification of Tanners Hill Estate.”