Serota joins ‘Tate Tower’ row

He blasted London Town's plans for a 32-storey block on the site of the former David Mussett paper warehouse as "an opportunistic attempt to cash in for private gain on the public benefits that have been created" in recent years on Bankside, dismissing the inclusion of affordable housing in the plans as a "cynical move".

Serota's comments come after Bankside residents staged a mock wake outside the building, cutting a cake made in the shape of a coffin.

Tate's trustees have lodged a formal objection to the planning application.