Women only tower block approved in west London

Work is getting underway to build three tower blocks in west London where only women can live.

Based on Wood Lane near White city, they're being built to provide accommodation for women who cannot afford rent in the capital.

Women’s Pioneer Housing (WPH) has been granted permission to build 270 new homes across an 18-storey tower block and two seven-storey blocks.

WPH own around 1,000 properties across West London and was first set up by suffragists in 1920. The company aims to “challenge gender inequality and provide much-needed homes for women”.

WPH CEO Tracy Downie told the council there are over 600 single women on the housing waiting list in the borough and the new homes at Wood Lane would only be offered to existing residents in the area.

She added: “We specifically choose to develop in areas where women feel safe and increasing the homes in this borough is incredibly important to us.”In the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham there are thought to be over 600 single women on the housing list.

The new project includes an 18-storey tower with 60 affordable flats, a workspace, a gym, a launderette and a roof terrace. The set-up will create 46 new jobs (24 in Hammersmith and Fulham) and pump around £1.6 million into the local economy through spending from the new residents, according to a report by an agent for the developer.

The homes will replace a 36-block of one-bed flats and WHP’s office building at 227 Wood Lane.

WHP previously applied for permission to build a 29-storey tower on the site with space for 80 apartments, offices and 350 shared living spaces in January 2020. But the plans were changed to make the building 11 storeys shorter after complaints about the height of the building.

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