Labour mayor candidate states housing as priority in his manifesto

Khan pledges to make 50% of all new homes in London "genuinely affordable to rent or buy." The manifesto includes social rent homes, London living rent homes, homes for first time buyers as "genuinely affordable homes".

He said that he will "break the homebuilding logjam by setting up Homes for London" and "building an alliance of all those with a stake in building new homes for Londoners." These stakeholders will include developers, investors, local councils, business and residents' organisations.

The Labour candidate also promised to "set clear guidelines for which developments the mayor will 'call in'"; support local authorities to achieve the maximum number of affordable homes in new developments and promote greater transparency of viability assessments, generate income from public land and help organisations such as housing associations and co-operatives use their "resources effectively".

Khan said that more devolution to London is needed and that he will "fight Londoners' corner, working with anyone who puts the capital first."

Khan set out a plan for the future and ways in which he will ensure more homes are provided in the capital while protecting London's character. If Khan is elected he promised to "amend the London Plan to give greater protection to residents affected by large-scale basement excavation works"; protect the green belt and open spaces; use compulsory purchase orders to assist councils to make use of empty homes, and revise policies to improve the design choices available.

Other priorities include transport fares in the capital; restoring the city's air quality; setting up "skills for Londoners"; tackling gender equality, and making London safer and fairer.

Planning expert Richard Ford of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com said: "There are a lot of good policies in Sadiq's manifesto. There will need to be an early focus on the evidence base surrounding 'first dibs for Londoners'."

"The London Plan will need to build up the evidence base surrounding the Strategic Housing Market Assessment areas which would demonstrate a justification for this in needs terms and there will need to be careful attention paid to viability impacts, on both public sector land being delivered in partnership with the private sector and on private sector land. The positive statement to use compulsory purchase orders is welcome, but a refusal to review green belt would be a wasted opportunity" said Ford.