Holloway prison: let the community have their say!

Justice Matters: A community plan for Holloway has today launched an online survey inviting members of the public to put forward their views about the future of the former Holloway prison site in Islington.

The survey is part of our two year community engagement project, working with local people and community groups to put forward a positive vision for the site.

The survey launch is accompanied by the release of a new report Islington: A local needs analysis, revealing high levels of poverty, deprivation and housing problems faced by people living in the borough. 

HMP Holloway was the only women's prison in London and sits on a large area of public land in Islington, the most densely populated area in the country with some of the highest housing costs. The redevelopment of the site provides an important opportunity to tackle some of the social problems identified in this report in a local context.

The report's author, Matt Ford, said:

Despite its reputation as a wealthy borough, Islington has shocking levels of poverty and deprivation. It is the 24th most deprived local authority in England and has the 4th highest rate of child poverty in the UK.

Given what this report reveals about the problems facing people in Islington, it is clear that the redevelopment of the Holloway site could offer a fantastic opportunity to meet needs and benefit the local community.

Rebecca Roberts, the coordinator of Community Plan for Holloway, said:

The Ministry of Justice still owns the prison and rather than simply selling it to the highest bidder it could decide to put the local community first.

A sale to private developers is not a foregone conclusion, so it's incredibly important that people come forward to share their views about the future of the Holloway site.

Community Plan for Holloway is working to ensure that the people of Islington have a say in the future of the site and their needs are prioritised.

To keep up to date with developments, you can register via the www.plan4holloway.org website.