NEIGHBOURS have been left “disappointed and annoyed” after plans to build a new tower block were approved.

The block next to Premier House, in Edgware, will not meet affordable housing conditions and flouts guidelines which says all new builds should include 30 per cent.

Instead, it will offer just 17 per cent.

The four Labour councillors on the planning committee also argued the building will be "too high" - but the Conseratives pushed it through anyway.

Labour’s Laurie Williams said: “It’s not sensible not including affordable homes and not acceptable either – we should be keeping in with the guidelines.

“It will be around £400,000 per flat which is just ridiculous.”

The plans also go against Barnet’s Local Plan Core Strategy, implemented in 2012.

Chairman Melvin Cohen stood down because his firm has done deals with the developer and the casting vote went to vice chairman Cllr Wendy Prentice.

Resident Jack Welby, who attended last night’s meeting, said: “I am disappointed – it feels like people’s objections were dismissed and we are very annoyed about that.

“Letting something go to the casting vote because it was a tie is not very democratic. The people of Edgware have been let down.”

Meanwhile Imperial House, in The Hyde, Colindale, were also approved last night despite not meeting affordable housing conditions.