Southwark signs up for the Quill skyscraper

This is London's latest landmark — a 31-storey tower nicknamed the Quill and inspired by the shape of an old-fashioned ink pen.

The building, granted planning permission by Southwark council last night, will house students studying at King's College, London. As well as 470 rooms, the Quill will have a bar, library, gym, "student hub" and café.

At its tallest point it will stand 109 metres high on a site in Weston Street currently occupied by an ugly Eighties office block.

It is less than 100 metres from London Bridge station where another skyscraper, the 310-metre Shard of Glass, is taking shape. The Quill has been designed by Spparc Architecture which says its intention was to "delight and inspire" the students.

However, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, which advises the Government, described the tower as "ungainly" and "over complex".

The design watchdog's report on the project concluded: "[We] doubt that the building is credible to build to the level of quality required for a tall building, either technically or financially."

Southwark's planning committee approved the scheme after council officers described the design as "dynamic" and "dramatic". They were also impressed that the angled roof will be clad in solar panels to help power the building.

A spokesman for Spparc Architecture said: "The ambition for this site has always been to produce exceptional architecture that stands apart from many mainstream student living facilities.

"Sustainable development, good urban design and strong architectural detailing are the key principles that have informed the design."