New homes proposed near train stations will be automatically granted planning permission even on green belt land if they meet certain criteria, as part of Government plans to speed up housebuilding.

Ministers hope the new plans will lead to thousands more homes being built closer to major transport hubs to attract commuters and help the Government hit its 1.5m homes target by 2029 .

But the proposals are likely to anger campaigners who want to protect the green belt from overdevelopment. New Feature

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It comes as councils will also be required to inform the Government if they intend to block any new developments over 150 homes , handing the Housing Secretary the power to have the final say on whether they should be built.

The meas

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