Croydon awaits Boris Johnson's approval for its tallest tower

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An hour later he was due to see Boris, to impress upon the Mayor the desirability of building a 565-foot tower in Croydon containing 430 flats, alongside a new office block and hotel.

The well-set 47-year old has been battling for years to have something built on the site adjacent to East Croydon station.

He maintains that 90% of the public who saw the drawings at public exhibition two weeks ago were happy with the designs produced by Make, a pretty fancy firm of architects.

If Boris is happy, and the council grants permission for the £250 million development next year, Croydon will get its tallest tower by 2016.

If local opposition succeeds in blocking this application, then the site will probably sit derelict for another decade.

Just as the boom was cresting, in March 2007, Marks submitted a £500 million plan, which included 1000 flats in three multi-faceted towers, designed by Make. The design appeared to take its inspiration from the art of Macramé.

Locals were not impressed. The plans were withdrawn in 2009.

Marks says his company, Menta, has financial backing from RBS. Laing O'Rourke is lined up to start work in 2012. Knight Frank is to be joined by Savills to sell the flats, which will start at £200,000. "So, the great thing is that we are not waiting for an occupier," he says.

The former Jones Lang LaSalle surveyor is alluding to the empty Schroders/Stanhope site, the other side of the tracks, where permission for offices has been granted. In 1990 Marks came to give advice, when a former developer went bust. Twenty years on the land still lies empty.

"If we get permission, we'll start building" promises Marks.