Europe's tallest office building will soar above London's south bank if a £600m project, unveiled on Wednesday, goes ahead. The London Bridge Tower is the latest in a line of controversial turn-of-the-century developments proposed for the City and its fringes.

The 400m skyscraper would easily top Canary Wharf, which dominates the east London skyline at nearly 270m, and outclass the Eiffel Tower in Paris, in height terms, which stands at 328m. It would be the sixth tallest building world-wide.

Sellar Property, a privately owned developer, is leading the consortium to build London Bridge Tower on the site of a 1970s office block, Southwark Towers. Architects at Broadway Malyan have designed the tower.

Anna Lagerkvist