The mayor of London has instructed TfL to bring forward the site in Kidbrooke, near Greenwich, as it will provide 400 new homes, 50% of which will be affordable to rent or buy.

Mr Khan claims that the four-acre site had remained unused during Boris Johnson’s eight years as mayor and has stated that this will be the start of the first wave of TfL sites that will be used to develop thousands of new homes for Londoners.

“Londoners are being priced out of their own city and we need to be honest that we’re not going to turn things round overnight.

“Last year, my predecessor built fewer affordable homes than in any year since records began 25 years ago – fixing this is going to take time.”

Mr Khan has identified that there is the potential to build up to 10,000 new homes at 75 sites owned by TfL across the capital.

“Getting homes built on public land can be hard, but after being elected, I set to work immediately to make sure we get building on more of the hundreds of sites owned by Transport for London, stretching right across the capital, that have been allowed to languish unused for far too long.

“This site in Kidbrooke will be the first of many we are fast-tracking to build genuinely affordable homes for Londoners.”

TfL has already appointed a number of property development firms to help deliver thousands of homes and retail space in London.

“Kidbrooke is the first of over a hundred sites that we are looking to develop to help us meet London’s critical need for housing,” said Graeme Craig, commercial development director of TfL.

“This is also one of a number of ways we’re generating substantial non-fare revenue to reinvest in modernising London’s network to make it better for everyone.”