Tory donor Richard Desmond revives controversial east London housing development

Billionaire submits proposals for scheme that government minister Robert Jenrick pushed in 2020, with nearly twice the number of properties of original plans

A Tory donor is drawing up fresh plans for a controversial property scheme that was at the heart of a lobbying row involving a senior minister.

Richard Desmond, the billionaire former owner of the Daily Express, has submitted new proposals for a huge housing project in east London, with almost twice the amount of housing envisaged under the original plans.