The fate of a campaign against a controversial tower overlooking Greenwich Ecology Park is set to be decided next week.

Plans submitted earlier this year to build a 13-storey block overlooking the multi-million pound habitat in Peartree Way are set to be given the green light despite an environmental campaign against it.

Friends of Greenwich Ecology Park says the development would impact the ecosystem by overshadowing the rare animals which live there.

Campaigners are urging residents to turn up to the town hall in a last-ditch effort to stop the tower.

Resident and friend of Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, Sue Younghouse, said: “We need people to turn out in force to show Greenwich Council that this 13-storey block will damage the park for ever.

“It’s a small green haven for birds and wildlife in an area which is increasingly surrounded by more buildings.

“The park is hugely popular with residents, nature lovers, families, schools, the local nurseries and is an award-winning and valuable educational facility – it needs protection.

“It’s home to many rare and endangered species that will be hit hard by the overshadowing.

“Greenwich Council also knows only too well that developers plan to put two more blocks beside this one and this will spell further disaster for the park.  It will be a slow and painful death.”

The group has a petition backed by hundreds of people including former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas.

However, planners at the council said the tower, proposed by Greenwich Millennium Village, would not impact the precious marshland next door.

According to their report: “The main concern raised by residents on this application is in regards to the impact of the proposed building on the ecological value of the adjacent Ecology Park.

“RBG’s independently appointed ecologist has confirmed the assessment undertaken by the applicant’s ecologist is correct and the mitigation has been agreed.

“Following thorough consideration of the detailed design and proposed mitigation, the proposed is found to be acceptable.”

Original visions for the tower had it as high as 20 storeys, but the developers dropped that following consultations to 13 storeys stepping down from 12, to 10 and eight, forming 65 new homes.

The developers said the design for this phase of its development was significantly redone in response to residents’ concerns about height and massing.

In 2016, a rare species of bee was discovered in the small park – the Viper’s Bugloss Mason Bee – which aren’t thought to be anywhere else in the country other than the converted brownfield site in Greenwich.

Planners say the proposals are “well designed and in accordance with the wider aspirations” of the site, and “encourages a sense of continuity and site character”.

Councillors will give the final sign-off on the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, November 6.