Overview

• Dame Justine Thornton, High Court judge and wife of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, opposes the design of a proposed six-storey block in Dartmouth Park, calling it 'too tall, too bulky, and too dense.'
• Thornton clarified she supports the principle of redevelopment but believes the design is unsuitable for the conservation area.
• Actor Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter also objected, citing concerns about architectural harmony and potential neighborhood impacts.
• The development, proposed by HGG London, would replace a 1930s villa and aligns with Labour's updated planning rules favoring brownfield developments unless substantial harm is demonstrated.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy PM Angela Rayner have championed aggressive housing targets, emphasizing a 'builders not blockers' agenda, while avoiding direct comment on specific objections.