Former newspaper warehouse located near homes
Residents in South London have strongly opposed plans to transform a former newspaper warehouse into a music venue, warning that it could lead to increased crime and disrupt the tranquillity of their neighbourhood.
The company behind the proposal, Spaces & Stories Limited – part of the Broadwick Group, which operates venues such as Printworks and Drumsheds – has applied for a licence to serve alcohol from 8am to 10.30pm six days a week at Deptford Storehouse. The venue, located on Grove Street, could host up to 500 people during events.
At a Lewisham Council licensing meeting on Wednesday (February 26), local residents expressed concerns that the project would fundamentally change the character of the area and create security risks.
Concerns over crime and disruption
Gizella Suki, a resident of 17 years, voiced strong opposition to the venue, arguing that the presence of large crowds would make the area unsafe.
“This area is completely unsuitable for crowds of up to 500 people to come and go. I believe this number of people will increase the crime rate in the area, and residents will potentially become collateral damage to this. Anyone likely to say ‘yes’ to this application should consider if they would like 500 people, up to four times a day in the area, a few metres away from their own homes,” she said.
Sophie Greaves, who has lived in the neighbourhood since 2015, also objected to the proposal, citing concerns about noise and disruption.
“I fully object to this going ahead. It’s so quiet here. If the events [are] taking over the summer, we’re going to have our windows open. It’s incredibly stressful and upsetting for residents… It’s a big shed. It’s not sound insulated,” she explained.
Community worker Malcolm Cadman criticised the project for failing to provide any benefits to local people and questioned the need for an early morning alcohol licence.
“I don’t have any alcohol for my breakfast. I may go for a drink at lunchtime or in the evening, but that’s quite different. This is not really aimed at local people whatsoever,” he said.
Police raise security concerns
The Metropolitan Police have also raised objections to the venue, warning that it could worsen crime in an already high-risk area.
Michael Feeney, representing the Met, stated:
“The premises is already in a high-crime area. Attracting this number of people into the area will only make this worse. If you have hundreds of people going to this premises late at night, then there’s the potential for them to become victims of crime as well.”
Initially, Spaces & Stories Limited had sought permission to host music events for thousands of people at the venue. However, following objections from Lewisham Council’s licensing team, the company revised its application, reducing the maximum capacity to 500 people and abandoning plans for live music. While this was enough to satisfy the council’s licensing team, it did not convince the police to drop their opposition.
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Defence from venue operators
Paddy Whur, representing Spaces & Stories Limited, defended the company’s track record, describing it as an “industry leader” in converting disused buildings into vibrant cultural spaces.
“We are experts in converting big sheds into environments that are culturally important, creative, and safe,” he said.
He also insisted that the venue would have a noise management plan in place to minimise disruption for local residents and downplayed concerns about excessive alcohol consumption.
“Alcohol is not the prime focus of events,” he emphasised.
Spaces & Stories Limited operates several other major venues, including:
- Drumsheds – a 15,000-capacity club and event space in a former Ikea store in Tottenham.
- The Beams – a 6,420-capacity venue in a former warehouse at the Royal Docks.
- Freight Island – a 3,000-capacity venue in Manchester city centre.
Decision pending
The Lewisham Council licensing committee is set to announce its decision on the application in the coming days. In the meantime, local residents remain concerned that the proposed venue will disrupt their community and lead to an increase in crime.
