Proposed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the new powers would allow ministers to prevent applications being rejected by local councils.

According to the MHCLG, some councils are “dragging their feet” with nearly 900 major housing schemes blocked in the past year.

Ministers will be able to issue “holding directions” to stop councils refusing planning permissions whilst they consider using their “call-in” powers.

Existing rules mean ministers can only issue holds when councils are set to approve applications.

The proposed changes would also allow Natural England to streamline its role by freeing it up to make “sensible choices” on when to provide advice to local authorities.

Builders will also receive government support to avoid planning permissions on vital housing projects from being timed out.

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Danny Pinder, director of policy (real estate) at the British Property Federation, added: “The Government’s planning reforms to date have been necessary but not sufficient to get Britain building.

“The relentless focus on unblocking new development is welcome insofar as it seeks to give industry the confidence to invest in new homes, workspaces and places, as long as the plan-led system remains the core mechanism for delivering development.

“However, as of today, the biggest barriers to development delivery are significant viability challenges, delays caused by bottlenecks at the Building Safety Regulator, and an increasingly cautious position being adopted by investors due to the current economic climate. We need to see action on these by the Budget at the very latest.”

“Sluggish planning has real world consequences - every new house blocked deprives a family of a home,” said Steve Reed, housing secretary.

“Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job.

“This will now end.”