BARNET'S planning chief says he is “disappointed” with Boris Johnson's plans to tax new developments to fund the Crossrail project.

Councillor Richard Cornelius says he fears the plans put forward by the Mayor of London will drive developers out of the area because of huge charges.

The £17bn project, expected to be ready by 2017, involves more than 100km of high-speed rail track being layed through central London as far west as Maidenhead.

Barnet has been placed in the second tier of charging, meaning City Hall can levy a £35-per-metre charge on developers, although the project is only expected to boost the local economy by around £30m each year from 2026.

Cllr Cornelius said: “It's bound to have an effect. It's taking money away to fund Crossrail that might otherwise have funded infrastructure here.

“Naturally I'm disappointed. Crossrail is a long way away, it's not going to run through and stop in the borough. It's not going to help our issues here.”

He admitted the council would have to consider carefully the level at which it sets its own development levies, which are being brought in to replace unwieldy 'Section 106' payments.

He added: “The council is developing its own community levy, but we will have to decide whether to set it lower to attract developers to the borough.

“I think it's a done deal, but I hope we can get the Mayor to reconsider it.”

It is thought the plans will raise around £300m for the project.