Mayor: I "strongly support" Berkeley Homes at Potters Fields

The Mayor's comments came in written answers to two questions from Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly Baroness Hamwee.

"I strongly support the proposed residential and cultural development at Potters Fields..." says Mr Livingstone.

He added: "It is unfortunate that Southwark Council, which had costs awarded against it following the planning inquiry, continues to prevent this development, thus depriving Londoners of 374 new homes."

The Mayor also quoted from the report of the planning inspector who heard the public inquiry into the scheme in 2004. "The design would be one which people would experience with marvel, wonder and delight," wrote planning inspector Stuart Reid.

Mr Reid added: "It would enhance the whole of the capital, and would give to London an architectural gem for present and future generations to treasure."

The Mayor has also suggested that Southwark's insistence on a cultural use of the site restricted the amount of affordable housing that could be provided.

In response to a question from Baroness Hamwee as to why he was backing a development that falls short of the mayor's own 50 per cent target for affordable housing, Mr Livingstone said: "The affordable housing offer was the best that could be negotiated at the time, taking account of the then draft status of the London Plan, and the need for the application to provide, at Southwark Council's insistence, 80,000 sq ft of void space for an unspecified cultural use."

The Mayor's comments follow his threat last month to issue a compulsory purchase order if Southwark doesn't quickly resolve the future of the land it owns next to Tower Bridge.

Last week Southwark Council revealed that it has received new offers for its land at Potters Fields, with the Design Museum – whose proposed move to Bankside was abandoned earlier this year – believed to be interested in the site.

A special meeting of the council's ruling Executive to consider the bids is due to be held before the end this month.

Meanwhile backers of The Hill proposal are preparing their own planning application for the site.