The allegedly offending structure is the 19-storey Arbor Tower, a 34.9 million office block built for developer Native Land, which opened in 2023.Stephen and Jennifer Powell, who live in th CZWG-designed Bankside Lofts (1999), a neighbouring building by the River Thames, are seeking a court order to demolish Arbor Tower on the grounds that it blocks out their light, The Times reports.The couple claim that the height of the building blocks out so much natural light that it stops them reading in bed, according to the newspaper.AdvertisementThe 28,000m next generation workspace forms part of a wider PLP-designed development between Blackfriars Bridge and Tate Modern.When complete, the 1 billion Bankside Yards will consist of eight towers, including Opus, a 50-storey residential skyscraper set to open in spring 2025. Source:PLP Architecture / WireCollectiveBankside YardsBut the Powells, along with their upstairs neighbour, Kevin Cooper, are seeking legal action on the grounds that Arbor Tower obstructs their right to light.The claimants are asking High Court judge Mr Justice Fancourt to order that Native Land alters plans for the unbuilt sections of Bankside Yards to make up for the loss of light cause by Arbor Tower and have told the court that, as a last resort, they will ask for the tower itself to be demolished.If their bid is successful, a court injunction could force the developer to remove the offending obstruction to the view of the sky in other words, to demolish Arbor Tower.AdvertisementIf the injunction bid fails, the trio has claimed damages which could run to millions of pounds, according to The Times. Compensation can be paid to an injured party in right to light cases as an alternative to an injunction for the loss they have suffered as a result of the obstruction. Source:Google Earth Tim Calland, a barrister acting on behalf of the residents, told the judge that his three claimants maintain that the exceptional natural light in Arbor Tower will have been achieved wrongfully at the expense of their light.But lawyers for the developers have insisted that demolishing Arbor Tower would constitute a gross waste of money and resources and suggested to the High Court that neighbouring residents could use an electric light to read in bed.John McGhee KC, representing the developers, insisted that the loss of light caused by Arbor does not substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of the [Bankside Lofts] flats and as such is not an actionable nuisance.McGhee told the court that the developers had engaged extensively with all other neighbouring property-owners whose light might be impacted, and that almost all of them had agreed to drop any claims in exchange for modest sums of compensation.The AJ has approached Native Land for comment. PLP declined to comment.