Prescott holds up Battersea £1bn plan

The future of Battersea Power Station is uncertain once again today after a last-minute intervention by John Prescott.

Planning permission for a £1billion conversion of the site into a leisure and shopping complex was approved in May 2001 and millions have already been spent on preparatory works.

In March this year, however, the owner, Parkview International, submitted improved plans.

While there is no change in the size or use of buildings, many were redesigned to a higher standard, in line with the Deputy Prime Minister's call for more buildings to have the "wow" factor.

Public areas were made more accessible and the large theatre was moved below ground. Parkview also added a £25million upgrade to Battersea Park station. The application was set to be approved unanimously by Wandsworth council's planning committee last night - but then a one-line letter from Mr Prescott's office instructed the council to submit the application to him first.

Wandsworth planning chairman Ravi Govindia said: "An hour and half before approving a £1billion scheme which will generate 9,000 jobs and was launched seven months ago, we are suddenly told Mr Prescott wants to look at it himself. He should have looked at it months ago."

Michael Roberts, chief executive officer of Parkview, said: "If we are faced with having to fight a major planning inquiry just so that we can deliver a better project for the people of Battersea we will have no choice but to consider building the scheme we already have permission for instead."