Bankside tower block battle heads to Europe

Residents living by Tate Modern who are trying to stop a tower block being erected nearby are taking their case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Their move comes after British courts ruled the development could go ahead.

Bankside Residents for Appropriate Development (Broad) will ask the court in Strasbourg to award compensation to residents living close to the location of the proposed-22-storey tower. The campaigners argue it would diminish the value of surrounding properties on the South Bank by up to 20 per cent, and impair their light and privacy rights.

David Lough, chairman of Broad, said: "The rights of residents are not sufficiently considered in the existing UK planning process and we think the law needs to be challenged."

The Tate Tower plans were rejected by Southwark council and the developers appealed to a government inspector.

Following an inquiry, the inspector approved the project - despite acknowledging that existing flats would be seriously affected and the tower breached local planning guidelines.

That ruling was upheld by the High Court and the Court of Appeal.