Labour's proposed overhaul of the planning system would see swathes of the Green Belt concreted over to create a new 'Grey Belt', Tory MPs warned last night.

Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner will today hit out at nimbys for blocking much-needed housing developments as they set out their plans.

They want to build 1.5 million homes over five years if they win the general election.

But critics pointed out that the plan involves converting swathes of Green Belt land into a new 'Grey Belt' category, sparking fears over the preservation of rural areas and beauty spots.

By contrast, Rishi Sunak has pledged to protect the Green Belt and focus development in and around existing towns.

Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner will today hit out at nimbys for blocking much-needed housing developments as they set out their plans. They want to build 1.5 million homes over five years if they win the general election

The English countryside in Buckinghamshire. Critics pointed out that Labour's plan involves converting swathes of Green Belt land into a new 'Grey Belt' category, sparking fears over the preservation of rural areas and beauty spots

Sir Robert Goodwill (pictured), chairman of the Commons environment committee, said: 'Labour wants to concrete over our green and pleasant land and they're fooling nobody by pretending that parts of it are actually grey'

Labour claims that only 'poor quality and ugly areas' of the Green Belt would be put in the new grey category and that building on brownfield sites would still be the first priority.

It says the plan is part of its mission to 'take on the blockers' – also known as NIMBYs – and 'back the dream of home ownership' by building more of them to help bring prices down.

But Sir Robert Goodwill, chairman of the Commons environment committee, said: 'Labour wants to concrete over our green and pleasant land and they're fooling nobody by pretending that parts of it are actually grey.'

Sir Keir said last night: 'Labour supports brownfield first policies. But we must be honest – we cannot build the homes Britain needs without also releasing some land currently classed as Green Belt.'