Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has relaxed English planning rules to make it easier to build new homes on existing plots, including in private gardens, prompting warnings from critics of a surge in so-called "garden grabbing". The change forms part of Labour's drive to hit its target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029, but opponents argue it risks overriding local character and resident objections in favour of hitting building quotas.

Under the revised National Planning Policy Framework, developments no longer need to match the surrounding street scene where "larger buildings" are deemed appropriate, such as on corner plots, and new homes can now occupy more than half a former garden's area provided they avoid harming the area's character; they can also be up to twice the footprint of existing buildings on site, though full planning permission and adequate infrastructure are still required. The Ministry of Housing said the changes support "thriving neighbourhoods" while still allowing local people a say, but shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly branded it a "power grab", and the move follows a separate announcement giving mayors new powers to approve or block major housing developments, overruling councils.