Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton Block London Skyscraper Development

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and musician Eric Clapton have successfully opposed the construction of a 29-storey tower on the banks of the River Thames in London.

A planning inspector has backed the local council’s decision to reject the development proposal, which sought to erect a 100-metre tower next to Battersea Bridge on the south bank of the Thames in south-west London.

The inspector characterized the proposed building as not exemplary, extraordinary, remarkable or distinctive, just tall.

The project, proposed by developer Rockwell Property, was the subject of a two-year battle involving several high-profile figures. In addition to Jagger and Clapton, actor Felicity Kendal and comedian Harry Hill joined the effort to block the high-rise.

Had the plans been approved, the tower would have rivalled the height of the chimneys at the Battersea power station.

Opposition from Local Residents

Mick Jagger, 82, has maintained a home on the north bank of the river since the early 1960s. He argued that the tower made no sense and described the proposal as totally wrong on every level.

In March 2026, Jagger spoke with the Chelsea Citizen regarding his concerns for the neighborhood’s future.

I have lived in this area for a long time and I care about what happens to it. If this goes ahead, it could lead to more tall buildings being built … changing this wonderful stretch of the Thames riverside for ever

Mick Jagger

Eric Clapton, 81, echoed these concerns, warning that the approval of the 29-storey block would set a dangerous precedent for the area.

If the plans were approved it would be a free-for-all for other developers to build towers along the river. These developers don’t give a damn what anyone thinks. They are just in it for the money

Eric Clapton

The decision by the planning inspector effectively ends the two-year dispute over the site’s development.