Vauxhall flats get go-ahead

John Prescott has overruled a planning inspector and approved a 50-storey block of flats at Vauxhall.

Conservationists will be alarmed. English Heritage says the tower will harm an important view of the Palace of Westminster.

The Deputy Prime Minister's approval is conditional on developer St George increasing the size of affordable homes elsewhere on the site. Eighty per cent of the units had been studios and onebedroom flats.

The developers have until 12 May to submit revised proposals. Mr Prescott said the tower was justifiable because it will "make a greater contribution to regeneration of the wider area".

He said English Heritage's concerns were outweighed by other factors.

Lambeth's regeneration chief Andrew Sawdon hit out at Ken Livingstone: "Mr Prescott has agreed with us about the provision of larger units of affordable housing. The Mayor, who tried to bully us into approving the scheme and threatened us with punitive costs if we didn't, has been proved wrong."