Ed Miliband’s High Court judge wife has objected to the construction of a new block of flats near to their family home, claiming it is “too tall, too bulky and too dense”.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer pledges to crack down on so-called ‘nimbys’ who use legal challenges to obstruct major infrastructure projects, in a bid to boost economic growth.
Nimby, which stands for ‘Not In My Back yard’, refers to people who may support a project or development in general, but oppose it when it is planned near to where they live.
Mrs Justice Thornton has objected to plans for a six-storey block of flats in Dartmouth Park, which would involve demolishing Lamorna — a two-storey red-brick house built in the 1930s.
While Dame Justine said she had “no objection to the principle of redevelopment into flats particularly in the context of the need of more housing”, she stated the “proposed design appears to be too tall, too bulky and too dense for its plot”.
She added: “The nearby Highgate Newtown residential development is a brilliant example of thoughtful design in harmony with neighbouring properties. This application presents another opportunity for the Council to demonstrate its commitment to the provision of sympathetically designed housing by acknowledging the benefit of redevelopment whilst rejecting this particular design.”
Developer HGG is waiting for a verdict on planning permission from Camden Council, which has received several objections from local residents.
These include actor Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Turner who objected to the plans citing concerns about privacy, pressure on local resources and disruption to the local aesthetic.
They wrote on the online planning portal: “The approval of this planning would also set a precedent for the area. For example, could I now demolish my property and replace it with flats and not require the same extensive planning approval.
“Or worse, the properties that are located behind this proposal on Chetwynd Road could apply to be demolished with an even bigger property that this proposal being submitted to form a MEGA development.”
The Sherlock star said the proposed development was “out of keeping with the architectural style of the area” and will “disrupt the aesthetic of the street”, while the “daily life of the existing residents will be impacted because of the additional services now required to serve this property”.
The Prime Minister has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes in England within five years, as part of a broader housing strategy aimed at tackling the ongoing housing crisis.
Starmer has become increasingly aggressive in his attack on nimbys, stating “for too long, blockers have had the upper hand in legal challenges – using our court processes to frustrate growth.”
“We’re putting an end to this challenge culture by taking on the Nimbys and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation,” he added.
“This is the Government’s Plan for Change in action – taking the brakes off Britain by reforming the planning system so it is pro-growth and pro-infrastructure.”
Developers HGG said the Dartmouth Park project would “deliver new housing on a brownfield site in an accessible location in line with national and local planning policy objectives.”
In its updated planning framework for brownfield sites, Labour has said they “should be approved unless substantial harm would be caused”, deleting provisions that previously said if the higher-density schemes could be rejected if they were “wholly out of character with the existing area.”
