The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has pledged to help protect and expand office space for small businesses in the capital.

Mr Khan made the promise after new figures revealed since 2013, over 1.47 million sq m of office space could have already been converted into residential units under the Government's 'permitted development rights'.

New measures are now planned to be implemented, including:

• Amending the London Plan so that there is stronger protection for small businesses and start-up workspace.

• Delivering new spaces for small businesses, the creative industries, artists and the fashion industry within new residential and mixed-use developments.

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• Promoting schemes to provide linked affordable housing and business space in new housing developments.

• Working with the Government on changes to permitted development rights.

Mr Khan said: "These new figures lay bare the impact that the Government’s misguided policies are having on space for business in London.  Of course we need new homes, but this does not need to be at the expense of the space we need for the businesses that provide our jobs and drive our prosperity.

"Space which is genuinely surplus to commercial needs should be identified authoritatively and its release carefully managed so that it does not undermine local business. 

"As Mayor, I will be focusing on building new affordable homes on publicly and privately owned brownfield land, while changing the London Plan in order to protect viable business space and to create new start-up spaces in housing developments."

(LM)