• ON International Women’s Day, March 8 2022, Islington Council seriously compromised the future of women’s services in London.

The 4,600 sq m of room space afforded to women in Holloway Prison has been reduced to approximately 920 sq m of room space in a 1,489 sq m single floor under a tower block.

This is very far from the iconic landmark, transformative, legacy Women’s Building that women were promised.

When asked at the planning meeting who Peabody had consulted on the design of the Women’s Building, they quoted “The Finsbury Park Women’s Group, women’s services and CP4H” as their consultees.

What did they hear in those “consultations”?

CP4H, Community Plan for Holloway, rejected the plans outright.

We know that Peabody didn’t consult any of the expert organisations that have served in this field for years: Women in Prison, Howard League, Holloway United Therapies.

The Finsbury Park Women’s Group does not appear on the council’s own directory of community organisations, and is not one of those that operated in the prison.

And only four out of 28 women’s service providers and individuals consulted – very briefly, and with minimal information – by the council agreed with the plans (this is shown in the council’s own documents).

The fundamental issue of space for the Women’s Building was again not addressed by the council; instead the argument about who will pay to fit out this not-fit-for-purpose space continued.

Peabody said they will make “every effort” to seek external funding to fit out the Women’s Building before they ask the council to pay for it from their CIL, community infrastructure levy, fund.

Peabody have made no effort to apply the needs of the community and the women’s service sector to the Women’s Building so far, so what faith can anyone have that they will make any appropriate effort in the future when they know the council will pay up in the end?

All the questioning after the representations was directed at the applicant. No questions were asked of the objectors.

Councillors’ questions were met with a repetition of Peabody’s position and no meaningful movement on any issue.

All the concerns of residents about the overshadowing and impacts of the overdevelopment and lack of community facilities were not addressed or dismissed.

Yet, with a plethora of uncertainty around the whole scheme’s viability, the promise of over 400 social homes swayed the councillors to approve the plans, condemning women to once again severely compromise their needs.

But Islington’s women need decent homes and key support services that could save, repair and empower their lives.

This was the biggest snub to women imaginable on International Women’s Day. Shame on you Islington Council

THE COMMUNITY PLAN FOR HOLLOWAY WOMEN’S BUILDING WORKING GROUP