Latest data from City Hall suggests that since Sadiq Khan took over as Mayor of London in 2016, the number of affordable homes in schemes approved by City Hall has nearly doubled.

The figure is from a historic low of just 22% in 2016 under the previous Mayor to 40% in 2020.

Meanwhile, the introduction of the planning Fast Track Route for schemes that include at least 35% affordable housing – or 50% on public or redeveloped industrial land – has seen the number of planning applications meeting this threshold increase by 45% since 2018.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Building more genuinely affordable homes for Londoners continues to be a top priority for me as Mayor. It’s great news that my approach of holding developers to account has led to a sea change in the delivery of affordable homes in our city since 2016.

“We still have a long way to go to fix the housing crisis, but it’s clear our approach is bearing fruit – helping us to deliver the homes Londoners can actually afford, rather than the luxury penthouse apartments that were prioritised in the past.”

Geeta Nanda OBE, G15 Chair and Chief Executive of MTVH, said: “G15 members build the majority of London’s affordable homes, and in the last year we have started or completed almost 10,700 much needed new affordable homes in the capital.

“The Mayor’s fast-track planning route for schemes with high levels of affordable housing has helped to deliver more affordable homes more quickly. We look forward to continuing to work with the Mayor, local councils, the government, and local communities to build the homes that Londoners need.”

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Deputy Chair and Executive member for Housing and Planning, said: “There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that London urgently needs more affordable homes.

“There are currently around 165,000 Londoners living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough – more than the entire population of cities like Norwich or Oxford.

“Around two thirds (63%) of the total number of homeless families in England are based in the capital. Boroughs welcome the Mayor’s progress on this crucial issue for London.”

Stephanie Pollitt, London First Programme Director for Housing, said: “The Mayor’s ongoing commitment to delivering more genuinely affordable homes is critical and the figures published today are encouraging.”

“However, there is much more that needs to be done to ensure that as many affordable homes as possible come forward through the planning system to delivery. This will take a concerted effort from the both the Mayor and the industry to increase not only affordable homes, but homes of all tenures, to meet the needs of Londoners.”