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Islington housing chief has expressed his frustration at a High Court judge’s decision to throw out a legal challenge against London Mayor Boris Johnson’s approval of the Mount Pleasant luxury development.

In May, Islington and Camden councils, which criticised the lack of affordable homes, announced a joint application for a judicial review against the Royal Mail development.

One of the grounds of challenge was that the Mayor failed in his duty to provide the maximum amount of affordable housing that could reasonably be delivered on the site. The councils believe he did not fulfil the requirements of policy and fair process when he assessed the scheme’s “viability”.

Mr Johnson granted planning permission for 681 homes on the site, one of the largest developments in central London, in October last year.

Viability evidence from the councils showed that at least 42 per cent affordable housing would be possible, with the majority being for social rent. However, the Mayor approved a scheme with only 24 per cent affordable housing – including “affordable rents” that could be two or three times the level of social rent.

But the initial application for judicial review was rejected in June, and upon appeal last Tuesday, the application was rejected a second time.

Councillor James Murray said: “We are very disappointed by the judge’s decision because we believe that the development is wrong for Islington as it consists mainly of luxury flats and dodges reasonable requirements for affordable housing.”