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Majority back 50% 'genuinely affordable' housing at Holloway Prison site

A proposal to require 50% ‘genuinely affordable’ housing on the former Holloway Prison site in north-east London has been backed by the majority of the community.

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Majority back 50% 'genuinely affordable' housing at Holloway Prison site #ukhousing

Council hopes developers will be deterred from trying to deliver less affordable housing #ukhousing

More than 500 people responded to Islington Council’s consultation on the former prison site, which is one of the largest development sites in central London and is up for sale by the Ministry of Justice. The council has called for 50% of new housing to be genuinely affordable and said that shared ownership could be replaced with London Living Rent.

The council hopes that the community’s support for affordable housing on the site will stop developers from overpaying for the land and then arguing that a high level of affordable housing is not viable.

Two-thirds of the 400 people to respond to the survey part of the consultation said they agreed with the council’s aims for the sites and 86% said there should be open space and play space on the site.

More than 80% agreed with including non-residential community space, such as a women’s centre and some retail space.

The mayor of London has previously said developers will have their planning applications fast-tracked to develop on public land if they include 50% affordable housing.

The planning document will be formally adopted at a council meeting in January.

Diarmaid Ward, executive member for housing and development at Islington Council, said: “We believe that providing high levels of genuinely affordable housing is not only possible but essential for the future of Islington. It’s clear from this consultation that the Islington community backs that belief.

 

“This document is an innovative, robust piece of planning with a ringing community endorsement and a very clear message ­– this is publicly owned land, and we demand that it be used to benefit the community by building desperately needed, affordable homes.

“We hope this will deter developers from overpaying for this land, and then arguing about the level of affordable housing that can be delivered."

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