Liz Truss warns Tories to build new homes on green belt land

A CABINET minister has said the government must build homes in the countryside or they will hand power to Jeremy Corbyn.

Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said planning laws need to be changed in order to open up "a lot more" sites for building.

"I do think we need to open up more land for building, a lot more. There are a lot Nimbys in Britain," she said.

In an interview with the Financial Times she was asked whether there are many objectors in her own party.

"There are, but I think it is a dwindling number," she replied.

"People recognise the choice is building on more greenfield sites and making sure there are enough homes for next generation or losing the election and ending up with Jeremy Corbyn, whose policy appears to be appropriating property.

"So I know which one I'd choose – it's having more homes available on the open market for people of whatever generation to afford.

"I also think we need to make it easier to build up in cities.

"I quite like the Japanese system where essentially you can build up on top of your house without having to get extra planning permission.

"I think we need to be more liberal about these policies."

But Tory MP and former minister Crispin Blunt last night warned that the Tories it would suffer an electoral 'catastrophe' if it does not protect the green belt.

The MP who chairs the all-party parliamentary group for London's green belt, said Conservative councillors already faced being 'run out of office' where building has been given the go ahead.

'Residents' associations are going off their rocket,' he told the Daily Mail.

Tom Fyans of the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: 'We agree that there is a severe lack of affordable homes available for people to buy and rent.

'However, what Liz Truss fails to recognise is that, opening up the green belt will not solve this issue.

'Almost three quarters of the homes built on green belt land last year were unaffordable.'