Fight over Tate tower goes to Euro court

Residents of flats near Tate Modern on Bankside have launched legal action against Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott at the European Court of Human Rights.

The case follows a four-year fight to stop a 22-storey tower being built at the entrance to Tate Modern and adjacent to their homes.

The case is expected to be contested by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Planning permission was refused by Southwark council but approved by Mr Prescott. His decision was then upheld by the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

The residents claimed the block of f lats would devalue their homes by as much as ?50,000 and was therefore a breach of their human rights.

Their association, Broad, was refused permission to appeal to the Lords and decided to go to Strasbourg to fight for compensation.

The tower is opposed by Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota, who said it was an example of "private greed".