Government design watchdog CABE has hit back at Westminster council’s criticisms of proposals for the £200m redevelopment of the BBC’s Broadcasting House in central London.

In a planning meeting two weeks ago, Westminster council told architect MacCormac Jamieson Prichard it would have to change its designs if the scheme was to get planning permission this summer.

Westminster council said the proposed increase in height of one of the buildings in the scheme, Egton House, would obscure views of the historic All Souls Church, which stands next to the site. CABE rejected this criticism, saying: “In our view, to lower this wing would be to weaken the architectural idea of making a backdrop to All Souls, which is one of the great strengths of the project.”