Last week Islington Council began seeking local people’s views on its draft planning guidance for the former Holloway Prison site. The guidance sets out how potential developers should approach any future development of the land.

The draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) has been published on the Council’s website along with other supporting documents and a survey where people can contribute their views on the draft guidance.

The SPD is out for consultation until 2nd October 2017.

The key planning and development objectives outlined in the document are:

1. The provision of housing and in particular maximising affordable housing to meet identified housing needs in the borough.
2. The provision of a women’s building/centre that incorporates safe space to support women in the criminal justice system and services for women as part of a wider building that could also include affordable workspace to support local organisations and employment opportunities.
3. Active uses along Parkhurst Road and Camden Road, this could include, for example, a small amount of retail provision.
4.  Improvements to local infrastructure to support population growth, for example, health facilities and public transport.
5. The provision of publicly accessible open green space including play space as part of a design that protects and enhances biodiversity, retains existing trees and provides high quality landscaping.
6. High quality design that responds to the sites context and constraints and makes a positive contribution to the local character of the area.
7. The connection of the site to the surrounding neighbourhood, increasing the site’s permeability, promoting walking and cycling.
8. The provision of an inclusive environment which is accessible, invites people into the site, and facilitates community cohesion.
9. The achievement of best practice sustainability standards, including the provision of an energy centre.

Read the Centre’s initial response to a draft version of the SPD published on the Council’s website in advance of an Executive Meeting in July here.