Westminster takes dim view of tower across river

A legal challenge has been launched against a planned tower which objectors claim would ruin historic views from St James's Park.

Westminster council and English Heritage want to force developers to redraw plans for the Doon Street Tower scheme - even though it is across the river in Lambeth.

The 143-metre high residential block was approved by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears earlier this year and would contain 329 flats, the sale of which would fund a 25-metre swimming pool and leisure centre in a deprived area of the South Bank.

But the objectors argue it would blight a number of important views, including those from Waterloo Bridge, Somerset House and from St James's Park towards Whitehall.

Lambeth council initially approved the plans but, after outcry over the height of the block which would tower over the National Theatre, the planning inspector revoked its decision.

In August, Ms Blears in turn overruled her own inspector on the grounds that the objections were outweighed by the development's community benefits.

Now the council and English Heritage have lodged papers at the High Court challenging her decision.

They argue she failed to consider whether the benefits could be provided by a different, lower-rise scheme.

It is the first time English Heritage has launched such a challenge and only the second time Westminster has objected to a scheme in a different borough.

A court judgment could take up to a year. But the protesters hope Ms Blears will instead redraft her decision, which could allow the GLA to reopen the public inquiry into the tower. English Heritage and Westminster believe Boris Johnson may object to the project which was approved under Ken Livingstone.

Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: "We urge the Secretary of State to respond positively

to this challenge and to look again at the ways in which this scheme can be delivered which avoids harm to one of London's greatest assets - its heritage."

Westminster council's deputy leader, Robert Davis, said: "The preservation of St James's Park, one of Britain's most beautiful parks, is far more important than creating monstrously tall towers which will destroy London's historic skyline for generations to come. We are not against the principle of tall buildings ... but the impact this building will have on some of London's most popular visitor attractions is nothing short of architectural vandalism." But Lambeth argued that the views of Westminster and English Heritage had already been taken into account.

A spokeswoman said: "This legal challenge will block progress by adding uncertainty and delay. The application has already been through an extremely rigorous planning process which has taken in the views of Westminster council and English Heritage, and the Secretary of State already acknowledged their concerns." A Communities Department spokesman said: "We have not yet received formal notification of a High Court challenge but we understand that one will be made. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."

Developer Coin Street Community Builders, was unavailable for comment.