Plans to fast track the delivery of approximately 2,000 homes on the site of a former Parcelforce depot in East London have been announced by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

The 10 hectare Stephenson Street site at West Ham, Newham used to comprise a large scale Parcelforce warehouse and car park and is the latest of several sites in the Mayor’s ownership to be released for housing.

These land holdings came under the control of the Mayor three years ago when he inherited almost 700 hectares of surplus public land across the capital. So far, 90 per cent of this land is now in development or in the process of development.

With two million Londoners now privately renting, it is expected that a third of the new homes in this residential-led mixed use scheme will be for high quality, long-term private rent, with the remainder delivered as affordable housing to buy or rent as well as and private for sale aimed at Londoners.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “With London now home to more people than ever before, housing supply and affordability is our biggest challenge.

“By seeking a development partner for the Stephenson Street site we hope to entice investors and developers to come forward and build quality homes for Londoners.”

The Mayor’s work to redevelop disused public land is one strand of his comprehensive Housing Strategy to double house building and create the homes hardworking Londoners need.

He is set to deliver a record 100,000 low cost homes for Londoners over his two terms, with more than 83,000 already completed.