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Hampstead Heath’s bathing ponds will continue to welcome people regardless of their gender identity, with forthcoming enhancements aimed at increasing privacy for women, according to City of London Corporation councillors. The members have provisionally supported recommendations to keep the current access policies in place while also moving forward with a broader plan for upgrades. A final decision on the matter is expected on 4 June.
Currently, the Ladies’ Pond is designated for use by biological and transgender women, while the Men’s Pond serves biological and transgender men. This arrangement has been maintained since at least 2017 and aligns with earlier interpretations of the Equality Act 2010. However, after the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling that “sex” in equality law should be understood as biological sex rather than legal gender recognition, councillors agreed to revisit the existing policy framework.
A consultation held last year attracted more than 38,000 responses, with a clear majority favoring the continuation of the current inclusive arrangements. Only 13% of participants supported changing the ponds to strictly single-sex use. Despite the strong support, the results have faced some criticism. For example, the campaign group Sex Matters questioned the unusually high number of respondents and has launched a legal challenge against the Corporation’s policy, with a hearing anticipated in the latter half of the year.
Beyond maintaining the access arrangements, officials have also proposed approximately £1 million worth of improvements to the three ponds. These enhancements include upgrades to changing rooms, showers, and toilet facilities. Katie Stewart, the executive director of environment, spoke at the committee meeting, noting that the works at the Ladies’ Pond will ensure greater privacy for those who wish to change discreetly. The detailed funding and scheduling for these projects are set to be reviewed by members in July. Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, criticized the Corporation’s policy as “simply unlawful.
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