The Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee met on Tuesday 05 May 2026 to discuss future access options for the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds. The meeting's agenda focused on the outcomes of a public consultation regarding these options, alongside proposed improvements to the bathing pond facilities.

Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds Future Access Options

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the future access arrangements for the Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds: the Highgate Men's Pond, Kenwood Ladies' Pond, and the Hampstead Mixed Pond. This discussion was informed by a comprehensive public consultation report¹ and an Equality Impact Assessment². The report detailed the findings of a consultation that ran from 30 September 2025 to 25 November 2025, which sought views on six potential options for the operation of the Men's and Ladies' Ponds.

The consultation report indicated that a significant majority of respondents favoured Option 2, which proposed continuing the current trans-inclusive access arrangements. Under this option, the Men's Pond would remain accessible to biological men and trans men, and the Ladies' Pond to biological women and trans women. The report also outlined the results for other options, including:

• Option 1: Strictly single-sex facilities (13% support).
• Option 3: Trans-inclusive spaces based on how people live their lives (43% support).
• Option 4: Trans-inclusive spaces but with communal changing rooms and toilets remaining separate (4% support).
• Option 5: A hybrid approach with trans-inclusive and single-sex sessions at different times (4% support).
• Option 6: Mixed-sex spaces (16% support).

The report recommended adopting Option 2, citing overwhelming public support and the successful operation of current arrangements. It also proposed improvements to the changing, showering, and toilet facilities at all three bathing ponds, estimated to cost between £730,000 and £1.08m. These improvements were considered beneficial regardless of the chosen access option.

The agenda also included a supplementary addendum pack³ which updated the Equality Impact Assessment Form. This assessment focused on the impact of Option 2, the recommended approach, and noted that the proposed facilities improvements would positively impact all swimmers.

For the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen's Park Committee and the Policy & Resources Committee, the agenda item included a request to consider an option for future access arrangements, specifically recommending Option 2. They were also asked to consider the associated access policy and agree in principle to allocate funding for proposed facility improvements.

The meeting was scheduled to include a public agenda, with item 3 being the main discussion point. Following this, there were provisions for questions on matters relating to the committee's work, any other urgent business, and the date of the next meeting. A motion was also listed to exclude the public for the consideration of non-public agenda items, which related to sensitive information concerning the City Corporation's role as a charity trustee.