Felicity Kendal among furious Chelsea residents objecting to 'silly' 34-storey Battersea residential tower block set to be built along stretch of Thames untouched by high-rise properties

The Good Life sitcom star Felicity Kendal has joined a residents' rebellion against plans for a new 38-storey tower block looming over the Thames.

The actress is among locals objecting to the proposed new 34-storey development in Battersea, south London, which she has branded a 'silly joke' of a scheme.

The new estate, on 134-year-old Battersea Bridge, has prompted opposition from people highlighting how the surrounding area has previously been untouched by high-rise properties.

Kendal, 77, has asked Wandsworth council in dismay: 'Who on earth would think that building such a massive tower by this bridge was a good idea?'

Other local celebrity objectors include rock star Eric Clapton, who owns a home in nearby Chelsea.

The new 199m-tall building, on the site of a building called the Glassmill which would be demolished as part of the plans, has been proposed by Promontoria Battersea.

The company is a subsidiary of US investment firm Cerberus Capital Management, run by billionaire Donald Trump ally Stephen Feinberg.

The tower is touted to be even taller than lofty London landmarks such as St Paul's Cathedral, Centre Point and the neighbouring Battersea Power Station.

But local opponents have sent hundreds of protest letters to the local authority Wandsworth Council which is deliberating over whether to grant permission.

Kendal, whose other TV appearances including being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2010, said: 'When I first saw the plan for this development I thought that it must be some kind of silly joke.

'But it is clearly not a joke, so I am backing the campaign.'

The actress, who has lived in Chelsea since 1991, added: 'I have loved this stretch of the river for decades.

'It is beautiful and relatively untouched by high-rise property compared to elsewhere. So much of the river in London has been ruined by great tower blocks of apartments.

'This section must be protected and not just handed over to foreign investors to make a pile of money for themselves.

'This whole plan is totally wrong and must be dismissed. It simply cannot be allowed to happen.'

More than 1,000 people have now signed a Change.org petition opposing the proposals, set up Chelsea resident and writer Rob McGibbon.

He said: 'One Battersea Bridge is a monstrous development. 

'The strength of feeling against it locally is very strong and united.' 

Developers say the project would provide much-needed 142 homes including 45 'affordable' properties, as well as offices and community space.

A spokesman said: 'Designed by the world-renowned architect Farrells, the scheme includes 100 per cent affordable office space, a new community hub for local charities, and public realm improvements to regenerate this under-utilised location.' 

A formal planning application has not yet been submitted, but a scoping opinion request has been made to the local authority.

That bid has suggested heights and massing of the planned block were not yet finalised but the building was expected to hit a maximum height of 38 storeys.

The council's consultation on the latest plans is due to run until Thursday next week.

It comes as think-tank New London Architecture released a report telling how 270 tall buildings of at least 20 storeys have been built in London over the past decade.

Another 583 are in various stages of planning, largely around the City of London and Canary Wharf, the organisation said.