China bans construction of tallest skyscrapers

China has banned construction of skyscrapers that are taller than 500 meters (1,640 feet) following mounting concerns about public safety over the quality of some projects. Beijing’s premier economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission, said in a notice. As per Bloomberg report the top economic planner has also directed local authorities to strictly limit construction of towers taller than 250 metres, citing quality concerns and public safety hazards in some projects stemming from a lack of proper oversight. Construction of buildings exceeding 100 metres will have to be at par with the fire rescue capability and the scale of the city where the buildings will be built.

Qiao Shitong, an associate law professor at the University of Hong Kong told Bloomberg, that skyscrapers “are more like signature projects for mayors and not necessarily efficient,” Only 10 buildings in the world are over 500 metres and half of them are located in mainland China. These new directives come after the near 300-metre-high (980 ft) Shenzhen Electronics Group Plaza, one of China's tallest skyscrapers, was evacuated on May 18 after it began to shake. Building collapses are not rare in China, where lax construction standards and rapid urbanisation lead to constructions being thrown up in haste.