LONDON, July 11 (Xinhua) -- London Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a "good growth by design" program on Monday evening, as the city's population heads towards 10 million.
In a keynote speech at the London School of Economics, Khan said the program aims to enhance the design of buildings and neighborhoods for all Londoners.
The mayor called on London's architectural, design and built environment professions to help realize his vision of London as a city that is socially and economically inclusive as well as environmentally sustainable.
A spokesman for the mayor said Tuesday that London needs to provide space for 46,000 new jobs and build 50,000 new homes a year just to keep up with demand.
"As well as building the social infrastructure to support both, Good Growth will leave a legacy of world-class buildings, outstanding public realm and large-scale regeneration for Londoners of the future," said the spokesman.
Some 50 design advocates will work with City Hall and councils on the program.
Khan said: "We must embrace London's rapid growth with both hands and take this chance to use good architecture and planning to make a real difference to the lives of Londoners."
One of the ways he wants to apply the principles of Good Growth is to re-balance development in London away from the high-price homes in central London towards more genuinely affordable homes for all Londoners.
