London's faltering towers

The clash between the Labour government, which opposes high rise, and the Mayor, who has become a convert to new building projects, has ended in a planning stalemate as the recession bites.

At least 21 London property schemes could be scrapped or dramatically shrunk.

The Evening Standard has learned that five skyscrapers are facing a public inquiry, seven developments are in doubt because of the credit crisis and nine face political opposition.

Even projects that have already won approval and funding face major difficulties as the property slump means flats will not sell.

Together, the height of the planned skyscrapers would be 4,095 metres. They would contain 6,271 apartments and add 1.7 million square feet of office and retail space.

The planning deadlock comes amid a battle of wills between Boris Johnson and the Government over London's skyline, with Communities Secretary Hazel Blears stepping in to halt two key schemes supported by the Mayor.

The Standard survey reveals that plans for a £500million scheme for Shoreditch, including a 51-storey skyscraper, homes and a hotel on the former Bishopsgate Goods Yard, have been mothballed as a result of the credit crunch.

And the bulging "Walkie Talkie" tower at 20 Fenchurch Street in the City is still on hold despite Mr Johnson's backing.

Piers Gough, partner at London-based architects CZWG, said the combined pressures of recession and opposition from Ms Blears had created an "appalling" situation for the construction industry.

He said: "Every developer has been hit by the credit crunch, it's very tough to get finance to start building even if a developer can find tenants or secure sales.

"In the current climate the likelihood of a tower going on site is extremely low. The industry is facing an appalling situation as one of the worst hit by the recession. It's very quiet."

Former mayor Ken Livingstone wanted up to 25 skyscrapers built all over London in the next 10 years.

Mr Johnson promised to oppose towers when he was running for Mayor but since his election has backed most of those which came before him, including the "Penny Whistle" in Ealing.

The move has put him on collision course with Ms Blears, who last month ordered a public inquiry into the 25-storey tower in the Ealing project.

Ms Blears also called a halt last month to the £1billion redevelopment of the Ram Brewery site in Wandsworth, including two towers of up to 144 metres. Industry insiders say developers are using the Government's opposition to schemes as a smokescreen for cash problems brought on by the recession.

Evening Standard architecture critic Rowan Moore said: "Until very recently towers were seen as an essential accessory of a go-ahead ambitious city and now 90 per cent of them seem completely pointless.

"They are ideas from a bygone age. Towers are more expensive to build and there's not the same high demand for flats and offices any more."

Below from left: 20 Blackfriars Road, Ram Brewery, Boomerang, Arcadia Centre, Battersea Tower