LONDON, June 30 (Xinhua) -- They are as famous as the Tower of London, the palaces and the changing of the guard, but pubs in the British capital are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Now London Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a plan aimed at preserving traditional public houses, many of which are popular haunts on the tourism trail.

Khan announced Friday he is strengthening planning regulations to enable London borough councils to use the powers to stop pubs from being pulled down to make way for developments.

At the same time the mayor has called on the national government to support pub owners by cutting the business rates they have to pay.

A report published by Khan shows in the past year the number of pubs in London has dropped by 2.4 percent, continuing a steady decline that started in the 1960s.

The figures show that while pub numbers have increased in Hackney, City of London, Camden, Bexley, Greenwich, Hounslow and Lewisham, the numbers overall in London have fallen from 3,615 to 3,530.

The report cites the reasons for the decline as being down to a number of pressures, including changing drinking habits, development, rising rents and business rates.

Between 2000 and 2018, the demolition has been the most common reason for pub closures in London.

The mayor's draft London Plan, the most pro-pub planning framework the British capital has ever seen, has acknowledged the key role pubs play in local communities by urging boroughs to resist applications to redevelop beer gardens.

Khan said: "The traditional London pub has been at the heart of London's communities for hundreds of years, but sadly they continue to face a long-term decline in numbers."

"As mayor, I have made safeguarding and growing London's night-time economy a priority, and am doing all I can to protect the capital's iconic pubs," he added.

Smaller pubs, some dating to the 16th century, are the most vulnerable, according to the report, with a 50 percent fall since 2001. This has seen the number of small pubs in London fall from 3,390 to 1,710.

The pubs industry in London is also a big generator of jobs, with more than 46,000 people employed pulling pints for regular customers and visitors.

Khan is to commission new research to help identify the full picture behind the falling numbers, particularly in small pubs, and give pubs more of the tools they need to help secure a more sustainable future, wherever they are in London.

He cites successes such as The Owl and Pussycat in Northfields, a microbrewery, which has opened inside a former children's bookshop.

Khan's annual pub audit, in partnership with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), is part of his commitment to protecting the capital's culture.

Geoff Strawbridge, CAMRA's London spokesman said: "The Mayor's Draft London Plan highlights the importance of London's pubs as part of our heritage and culture and we commend the efforts of his team in reinforcing his message."