Although many homeowners are delighted by the government's decision to make it much harder to get planning permission to build new homes in existing back gardens, developers and self-builders are outraged by the move.

Home Builders Federation (HBF) executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: "In many cases, developing gardens is appropriate and the best way to provide desperately needed homes.

"Where these plans are not appropriate, local authorities already have power to reject applications."They face difficult choices in determining where to build vital new homes, and they may choose to grant planning applications for large garden sites as an appropriate way to supply much needed housing in a manner that is not detrimental to the local character of an area.

"Many housebuilders were fearful of a Conservative government, even before the general election, because of its policy of "localism" to give increasing powers to people to determine the level of building in their areas.

This latest move has the potential to cause an even deeper rift between the housebuilding industry and government - which is most unusual when the Tories are in control. Lib Dems, however, are even bigger fans of "localism" than Tories.

Jason Orme, editor of Housebuilding and Renovating magazine, believes that building homes in back gardens brings "positive benefits" to communities.

He said: "While it's fair to say that many gardens end up being turned into large apartment blocks, an equally large number are turned into modestly sized, appropriate, sustainable individual homes to meet the direct needs of local people.

"Building homes in this way increases housing stock and protects our countryside."

Michael Holmes, spokesman for the Homebuilding and Renovating Shows, said: "In simple terms, making it harder to get planning permission to build new homes on gardens means it will be more difficult for ordinary people to build their own home."

Planning consultant Mark Dodds, a partner at DPP consultancy, says the proposed ban on garden development is "ill thought through, will put smaller property developers out of business, and will increase pressure for homes to be built in the green belt.

"While there are understandable concerns from local residents, it is important to remember that in many areas of the South East, gardens provide some of the only land available on which to build.

"If we are to avoid building on greenfield sites, then it is important to increase the density of building on existing residential land."