A 140 metre tower for a plot behind the National Theatre has received the stamp of approval from Hazel Blears, the less-than-lofty Secretary of State for Communities and Local Development. Doon Street Tower raised the hackles of English Heritage and others, who prefer their views from Somerset House and St James Park to be unsullied by highrises. Blears’ approval clears the way for the residential tower, which will stand considerably taller than the nearby......

All I do each night is pray...hoping that I'll be electable again some day. The highlight of the mayoral election week came at the Evening Standard’s Influentials Debate at the RSA on Monday, when Ken Livingstone told LBC breakfast host Nick Ferrari why he doesn’t drive. He revealed that he’d tried cars when a young man because he’d thought it would help him to get girls, but in the end had decided to “concentrate on......

Young Vic Theatre amongst international finalists for Riba architecture prize Climate change activists target Heathrow What would they make of the Red Bull air race, over the Thames? 8 year-old black belt was told he'd never play sport Hazel Blears reopens enquiry into new Thames bridge Image courtesy of ro_nya via the Londonist flickr group.......

After a surprisingly quick public inquiry, a new skyscraper for the City of London has been approved. Called "the Walkie Talkie" by nickname lovers thanks to its distinctive appearance, the 160 metre tall building will be replacing a 100 metre 1960s tower currently on the site. The building proposals had been called in by the then Secretary of State for Communities, Ruth Kelly, after concerns were voiced by UNESCO at the increasing number of......

The top two floors of an office building near Scotland Yard have collapsed following an explosion. The campaign office of Labour Deputy hopeful Hazel Blears is on a lower floor of the building. Reports suggest the upper floors were undergoing renovation, and only one person has been injured. According to the BBC: Eyewitness Barshan Ganwari said he heard a "huge noise" or "a blast" and saw "people running away" from the scene. Justin Linger......