Islington has one of country’s worst housing shortages. They had an opportunity to build 18 homes on land they owned (and increase the amount green space in Islington). But as Michael Hill reports they have backed down due to a petition signed by a few hundred people.

Some blame London’s housing shortage on a lack of cash for London councils. This shows that even when councils own the land and have viable projects, they don’t build because they’re afraid of a backlash from locals opposed to development.