BECKENHAM MP Jacqui Lait says residents face increased council tax and the loss of their gardens as part of the Government's housing strategy.

Mrs Lait's comments relate to the Government's National Land Use Database, which will identify every domestic garden in the country and will show land suitable for development.

More than 500,000 aerial photographs have already been taken and will be shared with council tax inspectors and the Valuation Office Agency.

Mrs Lait says this could see people's council tax bills increasing based on the size of their gardens.

She also believes the photos could be used to choose areas for development, leading to planning chiefs using compulsory purchase orders.

Mrs Lait said: "I cannot understand the Government's love affair with concrete, high density and demolishing our suburbs.

"Labour is quashing people's right to be heard and stand up for their area and in true New Labour style they will either tax it or build all over our homes.

"What we need to do is demolish the north-south divide and encourage regeneration."