Residents living in a London suburb are bemused it has been named as being among the most gentrified parts of the capital – instead insisting it is a ‘complete hellhole’.

Plumstead, in south east London, has been classed as being among the London neighbourhoods which have gentrified the most rapidly over the last decade, new analysis has found.

A study by the Trust for London charity has identified 53 areas where average income has grown by an average of 11 per cent between 2012 and 2020 – compared with a one per cent rise across London.

Plumstead High Street is number 38 on the list.

The idea of gentrification is typically described as a formerly poor urban area changing in character with wealthier people moving in, an increase in house prices and new businesses being attracted to move in.

But residents in the area – both new and old – could not disagree more.

Gregory Roberts, 75, who has lived in Plumstead for 52 years, said: ‘That’s a joke.’

He added: ‘It’s not gentrified, it’s abandoned. These surveys are a joke. Why not spend time, effort and money on actually doing something about it rather than just putting labels on things?

Plumstead has been classed as being among the London neighbourhoods which have gentrified the most rapidly over the last decade. Pictured: Margret O’Rourqe, 81

A study by the Trust for London charity has identified 53 areas where average income has grown by an average of 11 per cent between 2012 and 2020 – Plumstead High Street is number 38 on the list

Gregory Roberts, 75, (pictured) who has lived in Plumstead for 52 years thinks the area has been ‘abandoned’

The idea of gentrification is typically described as a formerly poor urban area changing in character with wealthier people moving in. Pictured: Overflowing rubbish in Plumstead

‘It’s full of chicken shops, betting shops, corner shops and vape shops.

‘There’s no hope or opportunity for improvement. All the more traditional shops have gone. The community feeling has gone.

‘I don’t feel unsafe but it’s not great. I’d move if I could.’

One resident, who did not want to be named, launched into a passionate tirade against the area.

She said: ‘It’s a rat infested s***hole. It’s hell on earth. I hate it. I want to move. It’s disgusting. It’s dirty. It’s a complete hellhole.

‘It stinks. There’s criminals everywhere. There’s crime happening everyday.

‘What’s gentrified about that? It’s crack central. There’s drug users and drunks everywhere.

‘It’s terrible. There’s no hope or aspiration. People aren’t moving in to better the area. Gentrification means improvement. Nothing has improved.’

Retired teaching assistant Pat Page, 70, (pictured) said she does ‘not feel safe’ in Plumstead

Gentrification is also associated with an increase in house prices and new businesses being attracted to move in. Pictured: Construction in Plumstead

Dinner lady Dianne Lorryman, 70, (pictured) thinks that Plumstead has not been gentrified

Residents say Plumstead is full of ‘chicken shops and corner shops and bookies’. Pictured: Plumstead

Shop worker Ahamed Limras, 27, started work at a Premier store in the area on Thursday.

On his first day, he said there were four cases of shoplifting in the first six hours.

He said: ‘Yes, it’s been a weird start. I was told to expect shoplifting. But they’ve just gone mad. They take anything, alcohol, food.

‘One was quite a lot. They’re very quick. I was warned there would be problems but this has been mad.

‘It’s a rundown area. It doesn’t feel up and coming to me.

‘I am not sure what I will do now.’

Retired teaching assistant Pat Page, 70, said she does ‘not feel safe’.

She said: ‘I’ve lived in Plumstead for 45 years. It’s as bad as it ever has been. Have the people doing these surveys and analysis actually been here?

Shop worker Ahamed Limras, 27, (pictured) started work at a Premier store in the area on Thursday. On his first day, he said there were four cases of shoplifting in the first six hours

Residents say the area used to be full of pubs and now there is only one remaining

Residents say they don’t feel excited to live in Plumstead and that the area has gone ‘downhill’. Pictured: aerial image of Plumstead

‘Come and live here for a week, see how gentrified you think it is then.

‘In the 1970s it had everything. Now it’s chicken shops and corner shops and bookies.

‘There used to be 12 pubs, now there’s one. That’s a decent pub but there used to be 12. They’ve all gone. It’s got worse, so how can someone say it’s improving?

‘Christ knows what the other areas are like on the list if they think Plumstead is up and coming. It’s really, really sad. I used to love it here.’

Dinner lady Dianne Lorryman, 70, agreed. She said: ‘It’s not gentrified. It’s dirty for a start. There’s no aspiration.

‘It’s gone right down hill. I don’t feel excited about living here.

‘It’s not good. Look at how run down it is. If people actually put proper effort in to change it and improve, rather than just give it fancy titles, it would help the place a lot more.’

Margaret O’Rourke, 81, said: ‘Gentrified? That’s a joke. There’s a lot of crime and anti-social behaviour. There’s crackdens everywhere.

‘They think having a few high rise buildings will improve property prices and then they can call it gentrified. It certainly isn’t that.’