Tate pyramid gets green light

A £215 MILLION extension to Tate Modern has been granted planning permission.

The Herzog-designed 70m-tall pyramid-style building was described as "extraordinary" by Southwark council. The Tate will have to raise £145 million but some funds are already in place.

Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota said: "We look forward to creating one of the most exciting cultural buildings in Europe."

The original design, a pyramid of glass cubes, was rejected by the council. It was redrawn to look as if it is "growing out" of the existing gallery. It will provide nearly 25,000 sq m of floor space, including a 1,500 sq m gallery.