Ministers have been warned that proposed changes to the housing targets formula outlined earlier this month could mean more developments in rural Conservative-held council areas than in Labour-held inner cities.

An algorithm outlined in the government consultative document Changes to the current planning system suggests more housing could be earmarked for rural than urban areas, mainly in London and the South East.On the website ConservativeHome Harborough MP Neil O’Brien said the new targets ‘takes the numbers down in Labour-run urban areas, while taking them dramatically up in shire and suburban areas which tend to be Conservative controlled.’