Councils at war over tower blocks

Westminster council has been criticised by the boss of a South London borough for meddling in the affairs of its neighbours.

Peter John, the leader of Labour- controlled Southwark council, sent a strongly-worded letter to Philippa Roe, the boss of Conservative-run Westminster, which is embroiled in an ongoing clash over a new development on the Southbank.

Two 29-storey towers have been given the go-ahead in Lambeth, near Waterloo Station, a few streets from the Southwark border.

Westminster fears they will block views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and has been granted judicial review of the plans.

But Mr John accused the council of causing “very real problems” at a time of “unprecedented growth”.

Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said it was “committed to preserving the status of the Palace of Westminster”.