Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quote Precious is a new-style weepie but one that is much more bracing than depressing quote

Henry Hitchings

quote Ian McKellen is captivating throughout. He delights in the play’s gallows humour, yet is also maudlin and poignant quote

Waiting for Godot Theatre

Fiona Mountford

quote Slight quibbles notwithstanding, this will set the West End’s stock riding high quote

Enron

Reader reviews

Film

Simon, London

quote Utterly, utterly brilliant. You really are in for a treat quote

A Prophet Theatre

Ella, London

quote Though 'Trilogy' has won rave reviews, I personally found myself exasperated after about an hour quote

Trilogy Restaurants

Dave A, London

quote We went on a quiet sunday evening and the food was excellent, but the experience let down by the service and ambiance quote

Mansons

Vauxhall flats get go-ahead

By Mira Bar-hillel Property Correspondent, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 06.04.05

Add your view

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."