Residents lose privacy battle with art gallery

RESIDENTS OF flats overlooked by Tate Modern have said they are “extremely disappointed” after losing a High Court privacy battle with the art gallery.

The owners of four flats in the Neo Bankside development on London’s South Bank took legal action in a bid to stop “hundreds of thousands of visitors” looking into homes from the Tate’s viewing platform.

But the trustees of the Tate Gallery said the platform provides “a unique, free, 360-degree view of London” and argued the claimants could “draw the blinds”. Mr Justice Mann dismissed their claim, saying: “These properties are impressive, and no doubt there are great advantages to be enjoyed in such extensive glassed views, but that in effect comes at a price in terms of privacy.”

A solicitor for the residents said they were considering an appeal against the decision. Natasha Rees, partner and head of property litigation at Forsters, who acted for the claimants, said: “The limited steps taken by the Tate to prevent visitors viewing into my clients’ apartments are ineffective and both my clients and their families will have to continue to live with this daily intrusion into their privacy.”

A Tate spokesman said the “viewing platform is an important part of Tate Modern’s public offer and we are pleased it will remain available to our visitors”. He added: “We continue to be mindful of the amenity of our neighbours and the role Tate Modern has to play in the local community.”

In her statement to the court, resident Lindsay Urquhart said: “I feel as though my life revolves around the viewing platform’s opening hours.”