The mayor of London has already begun recruiting new experts to scrutinise ‘viability assessments’, the financial details that lie behind how much affordable housing new developments must include.

These experts consist of finance surveyors and property consultant experts and will be based at City Hall, while Mr Khan will lead the new ‘Homes for Londoners’ board, which is formed out of London boroughs, housing associations and developers.

The board will oversee delivery, land assembly and investment decisions as it draws on expertise from across the housing spectrum.

“Homeownership has been slipping increasingly out of reach for more and more Londoners, and rents have been getting harder and harder to afford,” said Mr Khan.

“I want to be honest with Londoners from the start [and say] that it will take time to turn things around – we're starting from a position where last year the previous mayor built the lowest number of affordable homes since records began.

“That is why I am setting up my Homes for Londoners team to speed up homebuilding and to move towards 50% of new homes in London being genuinely affordable to rent and buy.”

A skills and capacity review will take place across the Greater London Authority that will aim to help ‘Homes for Londoners’ play a more active role in delivering housing mainly through bringing forward public land and speeding up the planning process.

"The mayor of London has made housing a priority from day one, and we have been working with James Murray [the deputy mayor for housing] on a new strategic housing partnership,” said David Montague, chair of the housing associations group g15.

"The priority now must be to build a long-term pipeline of clean serviced and consented land. 

“With this we can guarantee apprenticeships, jobs, economic growth, thriving communities and affordable homes. 

“Without it, London will lose out in the competition for investment and growth."

Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of London First, added: “The creation of Homes for Londoners is an important and encouraging step if we are to solve the capital's housing crisis.

“We want it to have a relentless focus on delivery, including getting more public land into the market."

Meanwhile, Steve Bullock, executive member for housing at London Councils, concluded: “I welcome this strategic initiative that will help all key agencies work closer together towards building the thousands of extra homes London urgently needs.”