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Skyscrapers must blend in and be built in clusters, says Mayor
Mira Bar-Hillel, Planning Correspondent26.06.08
Boris Johnson will only accept new skyscrapers in London if they are in clusters and "appropriate locations", such as Croydon and Docklands.
Under his proposed planning strategy, they must fit into the "local context" and be supported by the relevant council and residents.
Towers will not be allowed in inappropriate locations even if they have "wow-factor architecture" and bigname designers.
The demands will be outlined in a report on the future of planning in London to be published next month.
The document will focus on urgent changes to Ken Livingstone's London Plan. Mr Johnson is promising more consensus and fewer edicts being handed down by the Mayor alone.
His senior planning adviser, Sir Simon Milton, has said the equivalent of a government White Paper will be produced and councils will be asked to take it into consideration when making planning decisions.
He told a briefing for lobby group London First that the Johnson administration would be broadly prodevelopment, accepting his predecessor's population and employment growth projections and the need to maintain London's position as a world city.
But the Mayor's new planning powers, which allow him to grant as well as veto permission, would be used "very sparingly indeed", and only for major strategic schemes. Sir Simon said Mr Johnson will favour "high-density development" but not necessarily "high rise".
Discussions have already begun with the Government about restoring the vistas of historic buildings.
The Mayor says he will resist developments on the green belt, metropolitan open land, residential gardens and playing fields, and will seek to protect more trees and revitalise suburbs, especially high streets. He is retaining a target-of 50,000 new "affordable" homes during his term in office, but will focus less on social rented housing and more on shared equity and private rental. He will aim for more family-sized units.
The Mayor opposes Heathrow expansion, but is interested in the idea of more airport capacity in the Thames Estuary and wants a London airport capacity study.
