Plans by Ray Grehan's company, Glenkerrin, to build London's tallest residential tower got the green light last week, getting approval from the area development committee by just one vote.

The Irish developer shelled out €38m in 2008 for the site which forms part of a dual development plan.

Grehan said the 62 storey City Pride Tower will contain a 206-room hotel on the first 12 floors and 430 apartments at the Canary Wharf site, next to JP Morgan's offices. 

The architect is Norman Foster and Partners, the highly respected firm which Glenkerrin parachuted in to improve the controversial design of its Ealing Arcadia scheme in west London.   Norman Foster designed Wembley Stadium, Hearst Tower and one of the towers in New York's planned Twin Towers reconstruction. 

Glenkerrin linked its two Canary Wharf schemes, City Pride Tower and Island Point, together for planning permission purposes in order to locate 91% of its affordable housing obligation at Island Point with just five per cent at City Pride Tower.

Voting for approval for the tower scheme was tied four votes to four until the area's strategic development committee chairman gave his casting vote in its favour at a meeting on Wednesday night.

One councillor complained that the tower's residential density would be unprecedented for London and even for Mumbai, Shanghai and Sao Paulo.

Island Point, the eight storey, 189 unit scheme was passed by four votes to two.