The Holloway Prison site is one of enormous significance for our borough and it’s vital that it fulfils its potential, as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver as many genuinely affordable homes as possible.

Peabody bought the Holloway Prison site with a clear commitment to provide as many genuinely affordable homes as possible, however there were concerns they would row back on their commitments by attempting to reduce the amount of homes for Social Rent to 35%.

In September, local councillors joined a socially-distanced placard parade with campaigners, calling on Peabody to honour their commitment and commit to as many homes for Social Rent as possible. On Tuesday 24th November, the Mayor of London announced that he had worked with the housing association to guarantee 42% of the homes built on the site will be for Social Rent.

Nearly, 1,000 homes will be built on the site, 60% of those genuinely affordable, as well as public green space and a Women’s Building that recognises the legacy of the site and provides specialist support to vulnerable women.

Islington Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development, Cllr Diarmaid Ward, said:

“There is no justice without housing justice. This is a vital development for our borough. We have 14,000 people on our housing waiting list, many are homeless or overcrowded families.

 

“Local families need homes at rents they can afford and that’s why we campaigned so tirelessly with the local community for as many Social Rent homes as possible.”

Islington Labour’s Tufnell Park (formerly named St George’s) ward councillors – Cllr Satnam Gill, Cllr Tricia Clarke and Cllr Gulcin Ozdemir – said:

“This news is a huge victory for the local community. Our residents were concerned that Peabody would abandon their commitment but we are delighted that we have now secured 42% homes at Social Rent at the site. Tufnell Park ward residents will directly benefit from the development of these new Social Rent homes”