Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Rayner - who is also housing secretary - stressed how it was important to push through developments that had become “stuck in the system”.

The government is currently pursuing a 1.5 million housing delivery target which the deputy prime minister admitted was a “tall order”.

In recent months this work has included the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets and the formation of a special “Home Accelerator” group to expedite stalled projects.

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This has also seen senior government officials directly intervene in developments that have been waiting for planning permission, and commitments for more funding for councils’ planning departments.

However, Angela Rayner was asked about criticisms put to her by councils about Westminster intervention - with some of these from Labour-led councils.

“At the moment we haven’t had mandatory local plans and therefore we’ve seen speculative developments - I’m saying to local authorities to get your plan in order so you decide, based on affordability and challenges in your area, where you think developments should happen,” said the deputy prime minister.

“If they follow the national policy planning framework and that local plan then we shouldn’t have it stuck in the system for years.”

When pushed as to whether or not it was right to take over control from local authorities, Rayner said they were “taking away subjectiveness” at the local level.