Regardless of the public outcry at plans to build a skyscraper in Russia’s former imperial capital St Petersburg, the go ahead for the project has finally been given the green light. The proposed tower will be 1,322 feet tall and is to be named the Okhta Centre.

The tower will be visable from St Petersburg’s historic centre and is designed by a Scottish architectural company. Plans are for the building to house the headquarters of Gazprom Neft.

St Petersburg is commonly thought of as one of the world’s most beautiful cities but development may impact on its world heritage status.