London’s deputy mayor is to become David Cameron’s new national housing adviser.

Currently responsible as deputy mayor with responsibility for housing in London, Richard Blakeway will become Cameron’s housing adviser shortly before Boris Johnson leaves office in May.

In his new role, Blakeway will report to Camilla Cavendish, head of the Number 10 Policy Unit.

He succeeds Alex Morton, who was appointed the prime minister’s housing adviser in December 2013.

Boris Johnson said Blakeway has been “instrumental in boosting building and cutting through red tape to release public land and kick-start work on derelict brownfield sites”.

He added: “Richard’s tremendous hard work at City Hall has resulted in a record 100,000 affordable homes being delivered in London over my two terms and the release of 414 hectares of GLA-acquired land for development.

“It’s to his credit that last year over 18,270 affordable homes were completed in London, the most since 1981 and the equivalent of a new home built every 30 minutes.

“Richard will be a real asset to the prime minster and I congratulate him on his new appointment at Number 10.”