Organisations from across the UK property industry have signed an open letter to Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, emphasising the need for national planning policy to address the lack of consideration for women and girls, including both cisgender and transgender women and girls, when creating public spaces across the UK.
Turley has joined with 18 organisations, including Willmott Dixon, L&Q and Gleeds, to raise the issue after the most recent National Planning Policy Framework consultation included only one gender-related question. The question grouped women in with all other vulnerable groups and focused entirely on safety in public spaces.
In the letter, industry figures urge the government to focus on “designing and delivering public spaces that are fun and judgment-free” for women and girls specifically, adding that the government should “ensure gender mainstreaming is integrated into all planning policy” and that policymakers take account of “women’s interests and concerns to create a more equitable landscape”.
The letter states: “A consequence of the male-dominated nature of both the UK’s planning sector and political systems is that many of our cities and towns outrightly fail to meet the needs of the millions of women and girls who make up over half of the UK’s population. Despite growing female representation, women still only comprise 14% of the built environment workforce.
“This leaves us with a built environment that woefully underdelivers for women and girls, including both cisgender and transgender women and girls. Rather than creating equitable spaces where all feel welcome and comfortable, the design and nature of our built environment can act as a barrier to the full participation and enjoyment of public spaces by women and girls.”
Gender mainstreaming policies have been integrated successfully into planning systems in cities such as Vienna and Barcelona, while Glasgow City Council has voted unanimously in favour of putting women at the heart of urban planning.
The UK has the potential to become a world leader in nationwide gender-inclusive planning, paving a path to a future where every individual, regardless of their gender, is afforded equal opportunities to thrive. However, this relies on government taking the lead by setting policy expectations.
Stephen Bell, chief executive at Turley, said: “Designing inclusive and equitable public spaces for women and girls is not just a matter of safety; it is about creating a system that listens to and embraces the diverse needs and experiences of women and girls. We must create a system that guarantees them full equity in the public realm, allowing them to live their lives freely and fulfil their potential.
“Over the last decade, the NPPF has been instrumental in aligning planning policies with our wider economic, social, and environmental goals. Now, the NPPF can become a catalyst for further transformative change by tackling head-on the gender bias against women across our built environment.”
He added: “By integrating gender mainstreaming and ensuring proper consultation with women and girls throughout the planning process, we can help reshape a built environment that welcomes and empowers all genders. We encourage government to seize the moment in creating a national gender-inclusive planning system that sets a new standard for equality and inclusivity across the globe.”
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