Campaigning is getting under way for the general election – but thousands of SE Londoners will find themselves in new constituencies with a new range of candidates. 

Major changes to Britain’s political map were approved last year, with new constituencies created and others enlarged or shrunk.

The changes were designed to make sure constituencies were broadly of the same size – of between roughly 70,000 and 77,000 electors. 

With more people living in areas closer to the Thames – and those further away showing smaller growth in population – that meant Westminster seats had to be rejigged.

With the election now set for July 4, voters need to be registered by June 18 at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Those already on the register who need ID can apply for a voter recognition certificate or a postal vote, for which no ID is needed. 

In Greenwich borough, the most obvious change is in the old Eltham constituency, currently represented by Labour’s Clive Efford. This was too small under the new rules, so has been expanded to become Eltham & Chislehurst, bringing a chunk of Bromley borough into the new seat.

This has resulted in a huge new constituency stretching from the gates of Charlton Park in the north to Petts Wood in the very south, with much of the new territory including woodland, open space and gated private roads. 

Eltham & Chislehurst will be Greenwich’s most competitive seat, with Conservative Charlie Davis hoping to win. But Tory support in Chislehurst isn’t a given – in council elections two years ago locals showed their dislike of Bromley Council by ejecting Conservatives and choosing independents instead.

To make the numbers fit, Shooters Hill has been moved to Erith & Thamesmead along with parts of west Thamesmead. Almost all of Plumstead – including the entire common – is now in the constituency, currently represented by Labour’s Abena Oppong-Asare. 

Some of the Bexley parts of the constituency have been moved to Bexleyheath & Crayford – particularly around West Heath and Northumberland Heath – resulting in a constituency that runs from Red Lion Lane, at the foot of Shooters Hill, all the way across to Erith town centre.

The Greenwich constituency that changes the least is Greenwich & Woolwich, which now covers a smaller but more densely-populated area. Labour’s Matt Pennycook is the current MP. 

The winner on July 4 will cover an area stretching from Deptford Green in the west to the Royal Arsenal and Barnfield Estate in the east.

Voters on the Lewisham side of Blackheath Village will find themselves voting for the same MP as people in Deptford High Street, as they are now placed in Lewisham North, stretching from Ladywell Fields over to the edge of Nunhead, South Bermondsey and the River Thames. This is a rejigged version of the old Lewisham Deptford seat, currently represented by Vicky Foxcroft for Labour. 

The Lewisham East seat will cover most of Catford, Bellingham and Downham, with the rest of Lewisham borough going into an entirely new constituency, Lewisham West & East Dulwich.

Other changes can be found by entering your postcode into the box above or visiting whocanivotefor.co.uk. Full lists of candidates will be published on Friday June 7.