Wellington's mayor is defending the council's green light of a contentious housing development

At the start of easter weekend Sir Peter Jackson sent a scathing letter to council about the Shelley Bay development, ripped into the mayor personally.

He says the development plans for the 350 apartments look Soviet-era - and the council's political practices are something out of Albania.

But Justin Lester says the consents have been through the courts - and they've consulted widely with the public.

He says a renewal of Shelly Bay is well overdue as it's currently a group of dilapidated buildings.