Transforming the Albany

The Albany is a much-loved and widely used community-led arts centre, but the building is under increasing strain. It is more than 40 years old, and its ageing infrastructure, gas-powered systems, sound bleed, accessibility limitations and sometimes inflexible layout are making it harder and more expensive to run. 

Without significant investment, these challenges will continue to limit what the Albany can offer artists, audiences, young people, community groups and local organisations. The project is about acting now to protect what makes the Albany special and make sure the building can continue serving Deptford and Lewisham for generations to come.

The aim is to secure the Albany’s long-term future as a community-led arts centre at the heart of Deptford. The project will explore how to improve the building’s sustainability, accessibility, flexibility and visitor experience while protecting the spirit, openness and creativity that define the Albany today. 

This includes looking at better-zoned spaces that can operate more independently, improved creative and community facilities, a more welcoming relationship with Douglas Way and the garden, a new studio theatre, a light-filled café, improved meeting and rehearsal spaces, and more efficient systems that reduce running costs. We will also re-provide office and workspaces.

The proposals are being developed by the Albany, Stories and Aviva Capital Partners, with community involvement central to the process. Engagement with residents, artists, young people, community and resident organisations, stakeholders and Lewisham Council is helping to shape the proposals as they develop.

The wider professional team, including architects and technical consultants, is supporting the work. Witherford Watson Mann has been working with the Albany on the arts centre renewal brief and an appointment will be confirmed on the design of the new student homes later in the summer. 

Trinity Laban has expressed strong interest in partnering with the Albany, Stories and ACP for the Student Homes, addressing a strategic need for affordable, local accommodation for its students.

We are holding drop-in events at Deptford Lounge on Wednesday 15 July 2026 from 4pm – 7pm and the Albany on Saturday 18 July 2026 from 10am – 1pm. This is an opportunity for people to meet the project team, view our early vision and proposals for the Albany, and provide feedback. Our proposals are also available to view here, and you can have your say by filling out our survey. The survey will remain open until 29 August.

The Albany’s role in Deptford is not changing. The project is being shaped around the principle that the Albany remains welcoming, community-led and accessible for the people who use it now and the generations who will use it next. The consultation process will help identify what needs to be protected, what barriers need to be removed, and what spaces and qualities matter most to local people. The design brief also prioritises accessibility, affordability, flexible community use and long-term financial and environmental sustainability, so that the renewed building can continue supporting artists, community groups, young people, audiences and local organisations.

A simple refurbishment would not resolve many of the underlying challenges. While it could address some immediate maintenance issues, it would leave significant operational inefficiencies in place and limit the Albany’s ability to adapt to future needs.

Although there are many aspects of the building that we value and cherish including the theatre, we explored the option of demolishing the existing building and replacing it with a completely new one. We concluded that the estimated costs, disruption and environmental impact of this approach would be substantial, without delivering sufficient additional benefits for the local community. 

The project team recognises that nearby residents, businesses and Deptford Market traders may be concerned about construction impacts. A detailed construction management approach will be developed as the proposals progress, including access, deliveries, noise, dust, working hours, safety, safeguarding, communication and trader liaison.

We will work closely with Lewisham Council, market operators, traders and neighbours to understand potential impacts early and minimise disruption wherever possible. Supporting a thriving market and maintaining access to local businesses will be central to our construction planning process.