In September the Community Plan 4 Holloway organised a well attended ‘Placard Parade’ outside Holloway Prison. Members from the local community joined the organisers and other local groups to show through messages on placards their expectations for the site. The area of the former prison is larger than Tufnell Park Playing Fields, and this huge development (which is party funded by the Mayor) has raised expectations and the involvement of community groups to very high levels.
Co-organiser and Green Party member Rod Gonggrijp said: “Today’s event shows that more than anything the people of Islington want to be listened to. They want to see an iconic Women’s Building reflective of the site’s legacy, they want to see high quality affordable housing at social rents, and they want a sustainable development with green space for people and nature . And we support that.”
The site is being developed in a £81.5 deal, intended to provide 1000 new homes of which at least 60% are described as “genuinely affordable” with 70% of those being social rent, making it one of the largest and most significant housing developments in Islington in recent history. In June 2020 local activists flagged a number of key issues that needed to be addressed, including the climate impact of the development. You can see the plans for the redevelopment here, and make your views known either directly to the consultation project here, or through Community Plan 4 Holloway’s community survey.
