Housing was the hot topic at a Conservative Party hustings for its mayor of London candidates last night - with four men setting out their solutions to the capital's shortage of homes.

Wimbledon Times:

Zac Goldsmith MP said he would "obsess about housing for the next four years" if selected as the Conservatives' candidate this month.

The Richmond Park and North Kingston MP is up against MEP Syed Kamall, deputy mayor of London for policing and crime Stephen Greenhalgh and London Assembly member Andrew Boff.

Mr Goldsmith estimated the capital will need to build 50,000 new homes every year, but he said there was enough land available, particularly on brownfield sites.

However, he said it was important to get the support of communities, citing the ongoing redevelopment of the Ham Close estate in Richmond as an example of regeneration which could be rolled out across the capital.

Wimbledon Times:

Ham Close in Richmond

He said: "There's not one live government objection to it at the moment because developers and local councillors have taken the community with them."

An online petition opposing the redevelopment has got more than 850 supporters.

Syed Kamall, a Member of European Parliament who lives in Surbiton, said we need to focus on increasing the density of homes on our estates.

Wimbledon Times:

Syed Kamall MEP making his pitch at the Wandsworth Town Hall hustings

Citing a visit to the Ravensbury Estate in Morden, he said he liked the housing association's proposed design to regenerate the estate, adding extra homes.

But he said the housing association "had been letting down their residents for a long time".

He said: "The residents asked me and I said it was a good design and they said, 'If they had worked with us from the beginning we might have been more positive but they have treated us poorly."

He added: "If councils are building homes let's make sure it's homes that residents want".

Circle Housing Merton Priory reveals 'traditional village feel' masterplan for Ravensbury Estate

He also suggested allowing off-plan mortgages for London buyers, which he said are currently benefiting Chinese investors buying properties which are then left empty.

Andrew Boff, a London Assembly Member who lives in Barking, said he would limit the height of residential buildings to six stories.

He also said he would introduce the word "beauty" as a new criteria for accepting or rejecting planning applications.

Mr Boff pledged to give away disused public land owned by TfL, the NHS and the GLA to young professionals who want to get on the housing ladder to build their own "Grand Design" homes.

Wimbledon Times: Stephen Greenhalgh inside Oceana with borough commander Glenn Tunstall and club manager Dan Corry

Candidate Stephen Greenhalgh meeting police in Kingston 

Stephen Greenhalgh, deputy mayor of London for policing and crime and former leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, said: "I think it's absolutely wrong that 60 per cent of our police officers can't afford to live in our capital."

The business owner said he relied on his staff being able to afford to live in the capital for his company to operate.

Mr Greenhalgh also said the mayor can increase supply by being strategic about interfering with planning permission for big opportunities like Crossrail 2, which he said could add an extra 20,000 homes to London.