Glasgow could get feminist planning guidelines to make city safer

Councillor Holly Bruce also wants the council’s top bosses and key staff to undergo gender competence training, which focuses on equality.

The feminist strategy aims to ensure all planning decisions made by the council would consider how designs impact women, in a bid to make the city safer and more inclusive.

More accessible pavements, better lighting and community spaces, which women can visit for free are potential examples of feminist planning concepts.

Scottish Green councillor Bruce is bringing a motion to a full council meeting tomorrow (Thursday) asking that Glasgow adopt a feminist approach within planning policy.

Councillor Bruce said she was involved in research which found that young “women and non-binary people feel that the city wasn’t affordable, accessible, convenient or safe.”

The Langside politician said: “Public realm design with a women’s lens benefits everyone in the community, allows women and people of marginalised genders to be mobile, and feel part of the city.”

She added: “The motion calls for there to be a feminist town planning approach adopted within the new city development plan, which will inform all planning decisions made by the council.”

Proper consultation with women is needed to better inform policy development and service design according to Councillor Bruce.

She was involved in research from the Young Women’s Movement last year looking at whether Glasgow’s urban infrastructure supports the needs of females and non-binary people.

The motion due to be presented at full council tomorrow said: “Council agrees that in order to create public spaces that are safe and inclusive for women, and accessible for all members of the community, it is fundamental that women are central to all aspects of planning, public realm design, policy development and budgets.

“Council notes a gender-neutral approach to city development does not work, that women and people of marginalised genders have diverse needs that are not currently reflected in practice and that an intersectional, inclusive and climate-friendly approach is needed.”

It added that the local authority “recognises the main features of a healthy city are aligned with gender-equal cities including walkability, proximity to services, mixed-use environments, a safe public realm and open greenspaces. These factors aren’t only important for women, they are key considerations for creating a healthier, more liveable city for all, with positive impacts in terms of physical and mental well-being and air quality.”

It asked for the chief executive to prepare reports on how policy and practice should be altered to ensure a number of actions including the adoption of a feminist town planning approach within planning policy and the new City Development Plan and the gathering of data in consultations “to ensure specific gender differences in behaviour and needs are fully understood.”

The motion also called for the incorporation of ” gender competence training with heads of service and key members of staff across all council services.”

Councillors are due to consider the motion today (Thursday).