Energy Secretary’s Wife Becomes Opponent of New Flats, Contrary to Ed Miliband’s Earlier Vow

Ed Miliband’s wife has expressed opposition to the construction of a new block of flats near their £3 million family home, despite her husband’s promise to challenge those who oppose development projects.

Justine Thornton, a High Court judge married to the Energy Secretary, sent a letter to Camden Council concerning the proposed five-storey building close to their residence in north London.

It comes despite Mr Miliband previously vowing to put the ‘delayers’ in their place as part of his green energy and housebuilding agenda.

Meanwhile, Angela Rayner, the deputy of his party, is leading the government’s initiatives to revamp planning regulations in a bid to construct 300,000 new homes annually.

And the Labour Party said it planned to designate some previously untouched greenbelt land as ‘grey belt’ so they could build more houses across the country.

But Ms Thornton said in her objection the proposed design was ‘too tall, too bulky and too dense given the context of the surrounding houses and the wider conservation area’.

She claimed she had ‘no objection to the principle of development, particularly in the context of the need for more housing’.

However, other notable figures in the well-to-do area, including actor Benedict Cumberbatch, have said they fear the new development could open the gates for an influx of construction projects.

Ed Miliband’s wife Justine Thornton has come out against plans for a new block of flats near their £3m family home despite her husband’s pledge last year to ‘take on the blockers and obstructionists’

Mr Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter, an opera director, raised concerns around privacy and added the redevelopment would ‘disrupt the aesthetic of the street and its [Victorian] architectural heritage. Pictured: Day fourteen of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships

HGG, the property company behind the scheme, said that the block (pictured) would ‘deliver new housing on a brownfield site in an accessible location in line with national and local planning policy objectives’

Mr Cumberbatch and his wife Sophie Hunter, an opera director, raised concerns around privacy and added the redevelopment would ‘disrupt the aesthetic of the street and its [Victorian] architectural heritage’.

In a joint letter, the couple said: ‘The approval of this planning would set a precedent for the area.’

They are among a number of householders to turn against the proposal, which would result in a 1930s villa being replaced.

The flats’ developers have relied on Labour’s updated planning rules to argue extra homes are needed and that local objections should not stand in the way of houses on brownfield sites.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also been vehement in his criticism of ‘nimbys’ and ‘blockers’ describing himself as a ‘yimby’ – yes in my backyard.

HGG, the property company behind the scheme, said that the block would ‘deliver new housing on a brownfield site in an accessible location in line with national and local planning policy objectives’, stressing it is ‘in line with the priorities of’ updated planning guidance introduced by Labour last year.

In its planning policy framework, Labour said brownfield schemes ‘should be approved unless substantial harm would be caused’.

Ms Thornton, 54, married Mr Miliband, 55, after meeting him in 2002 and they currently live together in their North London house.

The flats’ developers have relied on Labour’s updated planning rules to argue extra homes are needed and that local objections should not stand in the way of houses on brownfield sites

A source close to Ms Thornton said: ‘Justine Thornton made clear she had no objection to the principle of new housing on the site. She was referring to a specific design’

The pair have two sons, born in 2009 and 2010. 

Having practiced as a barrister for 25 years, Ms Thornton was later appointed a judge.

She was called to the Bar in 1994 and made a KC in 2016, specialising in environmental law.

A source close to Ms Thornton said: ‘Justine Thornton made clear she had no objection to the principle of new housing on the site. She was referring to a specific design.’

But Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow housing secretary, said: ‘Red Ed joins the not-at-all exclusive club of 14 other serving cabinet ministers who have objected to housing developments in their areas. 

‘Incredibly, the energy secretary has pledged to “smash the nimbys” but, as ever with Labour, this is just another case of do as I say, not do as I do.’