Minister vetoes Foster 'penny whistle' tower backed by the Mayor

Lord Foster's plans for the "penny whistle" tower in west London have been rejected by ministers.

The 26-storey structure was vetoed because it would have had "a dominant and overbearing impact" on the area and would "seriously detract from [its] distinctiveness and identity".

The decision by Communities Secretary John Denham follows a public inquiry earlier this year, which was highly critical of the scheme in Ealing by developer Glenkerrin.

Mr Denham said he had noted the views of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, which had backed the project. He criticised it for not considering "the way in which the scheme would relate to its wider surroundings".

It is the latest twist in a three-year saga. Glenkerrin brought in Lord Foster in 2007, and his initial designs for the building by Ealing Broadway station were revised from 40 to 26 storeys, and the height from 143metres to 86metres, after criticism. Following the revisions, Mayor Boris Johnson backed the tower - in spite of his election pledge to oppose tall buildings in suburban locations.

But previous communities secretary Hazel Blears ordered that the scheme face an inquiry. Now, Mr Denham has concluded that, in spite of its benefits, "the bulk, massing and certain aspects of the design of the scheme would be inappropriate in its surroundings.

"It would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the town centre conservation area."

A spokesman for the Mayor said: "We were surprised at the decision, given the very significant and positive aspects of the scheme which the Secretary of State's decision recognised."

Two months ago Mr Denham rejected one of London's most disputed planning applications, the £1billion "Three Ugly Sisters" scheme at Waterloo.

He said its architecture was "fundamentally unacceptable" and the scheme would severely harm views of the Palace of Westminster. The scheme was strongly opposed by the Mayor in July last year, but in October he made a U-turn and withdrew his objections.

The Mayor also failed to object to the Doon Street tower on the South Bank and recently endorsed towers at Blackfriars and Docklands.