Boris Johnson launches search for new London housing sites

London Mayor Boris Johnson has called on developers and house builders to identify suitable sites for new homes, in an attempt to help London's housing shortage and boost the construction sector.

The information on development sites that Johnson aims to collate will be used for a housing capacity study, to be published by the Greater London Authority in 2009.

The study will be used to set London housing targets and help London boroughs establish their own individual targets.

More than 300,000 new homes are needed in London by 2017 to cope with London's exploding population.

The Mayor's housing strategy, launched last month, involves Johnson working with the Homes and Communities Agency to invest nearly £2bn a year from the London housing budget to delivery 50,000 new affordable homes by 2011.