Major plans to demolish and rebuild a secondary school as an academy with 66 social rent homes on top of it will go before councillors tonight.

The controversial proposals for the old Richard Cloudesley School have caused outrage on the historic Golden Lane estate where it sits.

Some 67 letters in support have been overshadowed by more than 100 objections from neighbours who say the school is not needed and the new 14-storey tower block would dominate their homes.

The listed Golden Lane Estate was designed by firm Chamberlin, Powell and Bon – which later designed the Barbican – and is recognised worldwide for its architecture.

The new school would be a City of London Academy.

Islington leader Cllr Richard Watts recommended the plans when they were announced early last year, saying the school places, and homes, were badly needed in the borough.