An extensive residential suburb between Tulse Hill and Norbury, Streatham is a popular location for those who want a house with a sizeable garden, but are priced out of the surrounding areas of West Dulwich, Tooting, Clapham, and Balham. Streatham is clearly very proud of its High Road. The banners slung between its lampposts proclaim it to be home to 400 businesses and the longest high street in the city. A walk down the bustling thoroughfare takes you past chicken shops, Asian supermarkets, trendy bars, locals pubs, ethnic restaurants, and record shops, all of which exist symbiotically, and represent the incredible diversity of this part of town. Architecturally it’s lined with art deco mansion blocks, interwar department stores, and golden age cinemas. Away from the high street the residential roads are quiet and suburban, predominantly made up of typical Edwardian semis and a few modern blocks of flats. Streatham Common to the south is a green oasis away from the hustle and bustle, and is a popular location for fairs and community activities.

Streatham was first recorded as Estreham, but this is believed to be a mis-transcription as this literally means ‘street hamlet’. The hamlet was on the side of the London to Brighton Way, an old Roman Road from the capital to the south coast, which from the 17th century was adopted as the main coach road to Croydon. Country manors and inns began to spring up around this time, but development didn’t start properly until the 1830s, when suburban dwellings were built towards Streatham Hill. The now grade I-listed Christ Church was built in 1840 and full suburbanisation began shortly after when the local railways were opened. Following the First World War the neighbourhood became an entertainment destination, with the opening of the Astoria Cinema in 1930 and the baths and ice rink in 1934. After the Second World War a number of municipal buildings were completed, many of which remain today.

In 2002 a BBC poll voted Streatham High Road the worst street in the country, with its high levels of crime and pollution. Since then the street has had a significant resurgence, but the reputation remains to a degree. The area has also been home to a number of famous faces over the years, such as supermodel Naomi Campbell, sugar merchant and philanthropist, Henry Tate, and the occultist and magician, Aleister Crowley.

While the High Road has certainly become less crime-ridden and much more accessible for those who live there, it is still a busy thoroughfare that causes a significant amount of noise and air pollution that local residents have cited as a serious concern.

As one of the city’s most ‘up-and-coming’ areas, Streatham is no stranger to development. While a number of new buildings have gone up over the past few years, probably the most significant transformation that will affect the local population is the ongoing regeneration of the High Road. With almost £3m of investment from the Mayor of London and Lambeth Council, the plan to improve streets and public spaces, and to support business continues to roll on, bringing new interest to the area on a daily basis. On the south end of Streatham High Street, a new Streatham Hub was developed, providing a new range of activities to local like an ice rink, swimming pool, as well as a sports and leisure complex. The final phase of the scheme encompassed the development of 250 affordable, shared ownership and private flats, with a lower ground level car park for 540 parking spaces and Tesco Extra supermarket. Overall, Streatham Hub was constructed to BREEAM Very Good/Good standard.