I don't think that's an accurate description of the situation in London. There is almost unbridled development at the moment. It's going to markedly change how the city looks and feels. That's what people are reacting against.
This is not driven in any sense by democracy. Quite the opposite.
If they announced (credibly) that they were going to build 75,000-150,000 new council housing units each year, house prices and rents would start to plunge.
If that were to happen they would have to be high rises and would be fought by the skyline campaign.