A huge tower planned for Hounslow town centre has received a mixed review from Boris Johnson's planning officers.

The 27-storey apartment block is at the heart of proposals for 527 new homes, a 10-screen cinema and 10,000sq-m of shops, restaurants and cafés opposite Asda in Prince Regent Road.

The size of the development planned by Barratt London and Wilson Bowden means it could be rejected by the Mayor of London even if it gets the approval of Hounslow Council's planning committee.

That's why the council referred the application to the Greater London Authority's (GLA) planning department for an initial assessment.

Officers there concluded the scheme failed to comply with the mayor's London Plan, which acts as a guideline for new developments, but could do so with a few tweaks.

They were undecided when it came to the architectural merits of the tower - one of the most controversial elements among local residents.

Their report makes no objection to the building's height and praises the "distinctive and playful appearance" of its north and south edges.

But it goes on to criticise the tower's east and west aspect, saying: "There is some concern that the extent of metal panelling will result in a largely flat and homogenous appearance".

The report concludes: "While the application is broadly acceptable in strategic planning terms, on balance, the application does not comply with the London Plan."

It then lists a handful of changes which it says "may remedy the current deficiencies".

These include more work on the detailed design of some buildings and further discussion with Transport for London (TfL) over transport provision, such as the possibility of a shared pathway through the site for pedestrians and cyclists.

The report also states the 250 planned public parking spaces - a reduction of 177 on what is there at present - are too many. However, it says this may be acceptable if required to prevent Hounslow losing custom to out of town shopping centres.

Trevor Timpson, president of Hounslow Central Residents' Association, said the GLA report was "just not good enough".

He accused the author's of "swallowing the developer's line" when it came to the height of the buildings, which vastly exceed that recommended in the council's own town centre masterplan.

"The report seems very concerned about the welfare of whoever moves into these new flats but less worried about their impact on people already living in surrounding roads, over whose homes these new buildings would be looming," he added.

getwestlondon has approached the developer for a comment.