Simon Jenkins writes in today’s Guardian

“Denying local people a meaningful say in their surroundings is undemocratic. Rayner’s beneficiaries are not to be homeless or poor people. In a bid to hit Labour’s target of building 1.5m homes, Rayner’s department is to rely on the “volume housing” developers of executive homes. She is not renewing towns by ending stamp duty on downsizing or ending VAT on refurbishment. She wants to press ahead with carbon-rich new buildings rather than reusing old ones.”

The oddity in Mortlake is that it is a Lib Dem Council which has denied local people a say in their surroundings. The Stag Brewery and the Teddington Riverside developments both rely on the extensive building of executive homes. To be bought by whom one might ask? Foreign investors?

And if the Inspector and Angela Rayner feel it necessary to approve Council plans, that assault on local democracy will continue throughout implementation.