UPDATE 1-London mayor hails developers for recovery role

* Johnson reaffirms commitment to infrastructure overhaul

* Says UK economy "powering out of recession"

By Sinead Cruise

LONDON, (Reuters) - London Mayor Boris Johnson on Friday paid tribute to Britain's property development community for its role in protecting the city's status as Europe's foremost financial centre and hastening the UK's exit from recession.

Speaking at the launch of The Peak office building in Victoria, central London, Johnson said his team was committed to reforming London's under-pressure infrastructure so developers could develop the city in time for the 2012 Olympics.

"We are powering out of recession, we are helping the rest of this country out recession and if you look at this building, I think it is a testimony to that," Johnson said.

Gerald Ronson, CEO of Heron International, developer of The Peak, said London's Victoria, a district known for its theatres and hotels, was being revitalised by new business occupiers such as Google (GOOG.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) setting up there.

As we emerge from one of the worst recessions in this country's history, the completion of this building shows our confidence in the city's future, Ronson said.