The picturesque seaside town of Deal – often celebrated for its charm and trendy vibe – is at the centre of a heated debate as locals voice frustration over the influx of people “Down from London” (DFLs).
This migration has brought boutique shops, coffee bars and rising house prices, earning the town the nickname “Hackney-on-Sea” – but for many long-time residents the changes have a darker side.
Skyrocketing property prices are at the forefront of locals’ concerns and many residents feel that young people born and raised in Deal are being priced out of their hometown.
Jeanette Franklin, 52, has lived in Deal her entire life and says the local housing market no longer caters to its own community.
“For the locals, it’s a big problem because it has pushed them out of the market,” Mrs Franklin told Daily Mail.
She added: “My son couldn’t afford to buy a place here. Even renting is too expensive.”
Her son Curtis Ferris, 29, said that he “can’t even afford to rent.”
He said: “I used to live in Deal with my mum and dad, but then I couldn’t afford to have my own place, it’s too expensive.”
He added that “even for a cheap flat” it would set him back around £1,200 a month.
While the town has seen rapid development, locals say infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. New housing estates are popping up, but services such as schools, doctors and dentists remain overstretched.
“The housing that’s being built is all earmarked for London boroughs, with only a few units set aside as social housing,” Mrs Franklin said.
Terry Barnsley, 70, has lived in Deal all his life and voiced concerns about the strain on local resources.
“The town has expanded with new buildings, but it’s taken over viable farmland, and there’s no real benefit for the locals,” he said.
The influx of so-called DFLs has also stirred debates about employment opportunities. While the arrival of trendy boutiques and wine bars has introduced new businesses, locals claim many of these establishments favour hiring staff from outside the town.
Mr Ferris said that many boutiques are opened by Londoners and they bring in their own employees, adding that opportunities for locals are “few and far between.”
Longstanding businesses have struggled to keep up with rising rents. Mrs Franklin pointed to the closure of a sewing shop and a factory shop, which she attributes to rent hikes.
Not all locals view the changes as negative.
David Robinson, 78, a retired lorry driver, has enjoyed watching the town evolve. “We’re very privileged in a lot of ways,” Mr Robinson said.
He added: “We’re surrounded by the sea and countryside, and people, wherever they come from, add something to the town.”
But even Robinson admitted to fears about overdevelopment saying “it’s like that song: ‘They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.’”
Louise Austen, 69, shares a similar sentiment.
While she appreciates the variety of shops now available, she’s concerned about the loss of family-owned businesses. “The shops belonging to local families are going down and down, which is a shame,” she said.
