The mayor of London has announced plans to create a Workspace Providers Board which will advise on securing workspace, including through the planning process, and creating new space.

The board, which will be made up of entrepreneurs and business leaders, will advise Mr Khan on other challenges facing workspace, such as permitted development and general affordability.

The mayor will ask London boroughs to signal their commitment to protect and create affordable workspace by signing up to a workspace pledge.

The pledge will ask boroughs to implement a number of measures, such as limiting the conversion of office space to residential units through permitted development rights and ensuring new developments include non-residential space suitable for small businesses.

Mr Khan has continued to urge ministers to give London greater control of permitted development rights in order to help small businesses.

“I promised to be the most pro-business mayor London has ever seen – and now I’m delivering on that promise by protecting workspace for the use of local entrepreneurs and small businesses,” said Mr Khan.

“When we give Londoners with skills and talent the space they need to fulfil their potential, we pave the way for the great businesses of tomorrow.

“Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to expand your business or a creative start-up that needs more space to work, my message to you is that London is open for those with ideas and passion.”

Clare McNeil, associate director of IPPR for work and families, backed Mr Khan’s plans saying that affordable workspaces were vital to sustain London’s start-ups.

“They are the lifeblood of London’s economy, with over 30,000 people working in them, including growing numbers of London’s self-employed in need of flexible workspace.

“However in many cases rents for these workspaces are becoming unsustainable.

“The government’s relaxation of planning rules for office to residential conversions is also leading to a shortage of affordable workspace in some areas, as well as little in the way of affordable housing.

“Action needs to be taken if London’s rich and diverse micro businesses are not to be squeezed out.”

Michael Spooner, south east London chair for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), concluded that the cost and availability of commercial space was a serious concern.

“A lethal mix of business rates and rental increases in 2017, a decrease in commercial space due to the ill-conceived permitted development rights policy and shortage of satisfactory space for micro businesses is making it harder to do business.

“FSB is highly supportive of new workspace models, such as the Lewisham DeK, coming onto the London work scene to give a welcome boost to the supply of affordable premises.”