Tower rises from the ashes

A £350million, 55-storey skyscraper inspired by Henri Matisse's portraits of curvaceous women has been proposed for riot-torn Croydon.

A planning application for the building, designed by Piers Gough of CZWG, which will include 400 flats and 25,000sqm of office space, has been submitted. It is part of a £3.5billion regeneration programme for the borough that was set ablaze by rioters in the summer.

The development, which would create up to 3,000 jobs, will also include a 200-bed, four-star hotel and a public area with cafés, restaurants and bars.