The mayor and the world city skyline : London's tall buildings debate

Political leaders are renowned for their attempts to leave their impression on the urban landscape. Ken Livingstone's period in office as mayor of London has been marked by his attempts to substantially increase the number of tall buildings in the city. This paper examines some of the debates that have erupted between conservationist bodies (including the very influential English Heritage) and the mayor, developers, and several London boroughs including the City of London Corporation over proposed new skyscrapers. It considers where the power to shape London's aesthetics lies, and whether this is, or can be, democratically accountable.