Boris Johnson's team 'scuppering Ark Royal heliport plan'

Boris Johnson's planning team was accused today of blocking a proposal to turn HMS Ark Royal into a floating heliport.

The consortium behind the bid claims it has the full support of businesses and the Mayor should think again.

Under the proposal, which is said to have military backing, the former flagship would be staffed by veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The aircraft carrier would be moored on the Thames near City airport and could provide charter helicopter flights to airports as well as private flights.

Ark Royal was put up for sale on the Ministry of Defence's auction website after it was decommissioned. City Hall insiders said that any proposal for a new heliport in London would be against the principles set out in the London Plan, the Mayor's vision for the capital which will be published this summer.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "The proposal for heliports in the capital is against London Plan policy so it has never been put to him for a formal decision."

But supporters of the proposal claim the Mayor's officials have "stymied" their plans by refusing to consider mooring Ark Royal in the East End. Nick Tubbs, the developer behind the scheme, said: "It is unquestionably possible for the London Plan to be rewritten sufficiently because this is an outstanding opportunity for London."