London's skyline to get new addition with £1bn skyscraper scheme

London's skyline is getting a new addition as part of a one-billion-euro project which recently received a council’s approval to construct three tower blocks near south London's Blackfriars Bridge.

The project includes a 195-metre office block and two residential towers, 155 metres and 95 metres high.

The towers, which are set to be constructed on 18 Blackfriars Road after a unanimous approval from the Southwark Council, will be taller than the nearby landmark 1 Blackfriars.

According to The Standard UK, the project will add 433 new homes, of which 40.5% will be designated as "affordable", and generate £11 million in social housing fund.

Westminster City Council had raised formal objections before the approval stating that the new towers will "significantly" harm views from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and from St James's Park.

Residents of Waterloo's Roupell Street, known for its picturesque 19th century houses featured in episodes of popular TV shows such as Call the Midwife and Doctor Who, had also objected over the “unprecedented size of the proposed towers."

However, developer Hines UK claimed that the scheme would accentuate the character of street’s two-storey homes by highlighting the contrast between them and the modern skyscrapers.

Ross Blair, of developer Hines UK, said: "Our plans will transform an undeveloped piece of land, most of which has lain empty for over 20 years, into much needed new homes and first class, sustainable and tech-enabled offices, built around a central hub which we hope will become a brand new convening space for the local community."

The plans will be referred to the Mayor of London to decide whether to intervene.