GREEN BELT FIGHT LOOMS OVER HOMES

Stressing the need to release more land for affordable homes across the country, she refused to rule out redrawing the green belt map.

Speaking to MPs in one of her first appearances in the job, Ms Blears promised that the Government would move fast to ease the housing shortage.

That would mean freeing up greater swathes of land for development, using the planning system to better effect and getting more councils to lead home-building projects.

"I think we are going to have a tussle, if you like, because some people are concerned about environmental issues," she told the Communities and Local Government Select Committee.

"But I think the priority has to be to build these homes."

Pressed on whether ministers harboured plans to significantly revise green belt boundaries, Ms Blears said she was in no position to offer "categoric assurances".

She added: "I'm very well aware of the different stresses and strains there will be in the system and part of our job is how do we get the balance right."

Her comments come as Downing Street signalled that a central thrust of Gordon Brown's first legislative programme would be housing.

Ms Blears insisted the Government had to facilitate the release of more land as its shortage was currently a "big block" on the building of new homes. Part of that would involve a fresh push across the Government to make available public sector sites. She said that had to happen "very quickly indeed".