A group of prominent film and TV actors including Ralph Fiennes have joined a campaign to block a radical development project in Hammersmith's King Street.
The star of the Harry Potter series and The English Patient said he is 'strongly opposed' to two 15 storey blocks of luxury flats next to the town hall, which have been put forward as part of a council-led regeneration plan.
Fellow thespians Joely Richardson, Dougray Scott and David Threlfall have also added their backing to the Save Our Skyline campaign, which was launched by residents and community groups to fight the King Street Developments scheme.
The actors are urging all those who are concerned about the project to voice their objections before January 4, when a formal consultation on the planning application closes.
Mr Fiennes said: "Hammersmith neighbourhood is low-rise and historic, with a number of Grade II listed buildings, and therefore high rise tower blocks are completely out of character with the surrounding area and historic waterfront.
"The development also includes the demolition of the Art Deco cinema. As one of the last few remaining in London, this is a local building of merit, profitable, and very popular with not just the local community but people from surrounding areas as well. It should be preserved for future generations.
"Any development would not only lead to an irrevocable loss to the spirit of the area, but would also be a blemish on the landscape."
Ms Richardson, who grew up in the area and stars in the forthcoming Hollywood remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, said escaping to the Cineworld cinema in Hammersmith had 'played a big part' in her decision to become an actress.
"I have always considered the river at Hammersmith to be one of the loveliest parts of London," she said. "It should not become yet another homogenized civic environment as it is an important part of our heritage."
Mission Impossible II villain Dougray Scott said he was 'appalled and quite frankly furious' about the proposals, which were drawn up after the developers won a council competition to reshape the western end of King Street.
As well as the 15 storey towers, the plans include the creation of a new public square in place of the current town hall extension, new council offices, a supermarket and a footbridge over the A4 to Furnivall Gardens.
Shameless star and local resident David Threlfall said he was 'staggered' by the development and slammed the 'greed' of the developers, who want to double the height of the existing skyline.
He added: "To demolish a mainstay of the community such as the cinema, for the sake of yet another unnecessary supermarket, while offering no concessions to what residents want is insensitive and dictatorial."
A spokeswoman for King Street Developments, a joint venture between Grainger and Helical Bar, said the project would be a 'fantastic development of the the highest quality' of which Hammersmith and Fulham would be proud, securing the future of Hammersmith Town Hall, saving taxpayers money through reduced operating costs for the council, and driving more business down King Street.
She said: "As with any regeneration scheme there are many challenging factors, it is therefore essential that local people understand the impact of delivering these regeneration plans and the impact of doing nothing.
"We have engaged in significant consultation with local residents over the past three years, and our door remains open to any local group which wishes us to explain in more detail the issues driving the need for regeneration in this part of Hammersmith, and how this scheme addresses them."
The planning application will be considered by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in the new year.
