London mayor Ken Livingstone is to announce a new look for the capital's skyline with the launch of his "spatial development strategy".

Livingstone believes that well designed sky-scrapers do not spoil the view and the current "sightline" protections "do not mean much to Londoners".

The plans aim to allow the growth of London's population - projected at nearly 10 per cent - to 8.1 million avoiding social problems or traffic congestion.

Schools and small businesses have expressed concerns that Livingstone's plan to impose a £5 congestion on car drivers coming into central London will lead to a "Berlin Wall" cutting them off from the communities that they serve.

The charges aim to cut traffic by up to 15 per cent and are to be introduced on January 2 2003.