High hopes for London tower

The Heron Tower will be 183 metres high

Plans for one of the tallest buildings in London have been approved by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

The 42-storey Heron Tower will be a mixture of office and retail space in Bishopsgate.

Objectors said it would spoil the London skyline, in particular views of St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London.

But Mr Prescott agreed with the planning inspector there would be no significant damage and the tower would contribute to the City's economy.

Listed building

Mr Prescott directed in February 2001 that the planning application be referred to him instead of being dealt with by the local planning authority, the Corporation of the City of London.

The ruling said that Mr Prescott agreed that the tower would be "an elegant, graceful and well proportioned structure".

The planning inspector also took into account what the tower would contribute to the economy of the City.

Mr Prescott is also expected to rule within the next few days on plans for an even taller tower block in the capital.

The 66-storey glass tower, nicknamed the Shard, has been earmarked for a site at London Bridge.