Glasgow 'UK's first feminist city' after councillors back motion for women to be at centre of city planning

Glasgow has become the UK’s first feminist city, it has been claimed.

It comes after councillors backed a motion to put women at the centre of city planning.

The move seeks to put a focus on the needs and perspectives of women in decisions around infrastructure and design of public spaces.

These could include widening pavements to accommodate buggies, providing more lighting in parks and ensuring safer active travel routes.

The motion was brought forward by Glasgow Greens councillor Holly Bruce.

She stated that streets, parks and buildings have been designed by men for “too long”.

Bruce indicated that shortcomings in design have often been “unintended”, but underlined the need for more women to be involved in decision-making.

“Women and those of marginalised genders have a right to the city, have a right to not only exist but to flourish in its environment,” she said.

“I’m delighted that our motion received unanimous support from across the chamber today and it’s so exciting to consider how much better Glasgow can become with a feminist approach to designing our city.

“For too long, our streets, parks and buildings have been designed by men. The apparently gender-neutral approach that we’ve used for centuries has meant that the male perspective has become the default.

“These shortcomings have often been unintended and are an obvious consequence of having too few women in the rooms where decisions are made.”