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Robert Jenrick is to meet Tory backbenchers 鈥渋n the coming days鈥� in an attempt to win them over to the government鈥檚 proposed planning reforms. 

The promise came as some backbenchers voiced cautious support for the proposed planning bill and Jenrick, the communities secretary, hit back at claims by former prime minister Theresa May that it will create a 鈥渄evelopers鈥� charter鈥�.

Despite continuing reservations from other Tory MPs, many praised the reforms yesterday in a Commons debate on last week鈥檚 Queen鈥檚 speech in signs of a growing unity within the party over the bill ahead of its expected introduction to parliament this year. 

Former international trade secretary Liam Fox said he welcomed Jenrick鈥檚 鈥漞nthusiasm, innovation and creativity鈥�, while Milton Keynes North MP Ben Everitt said he was 鈥渧ery heartened鈥� by the plans.

It will come as a relief to Jenrick following a rebellion last autumn over a housing algorithm included in a white paper on the reforms that forced the government into a U-turn.

Conservative Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely, who led the rebellion over the algorithm and was the most vocal opponent in the debate, told Jenrick that scrapping the current planning system was 鈥渦n-Conservative鈥� and could lead to a 鈥渨hole host of new problems鈥�.

He said that improving the current system rather than creating a new one would mean a better chance of the government achieving its housing targets and avoiding a 鈥渂ig bang with all the unforeseen consequences鈥�.

To seek 鈥渞evolutionary change鈥� was more likely to result in 鈥渇ailed policy, unforeseen outcomes and, frankly, disenfranchised and irritated constituents鈥�, he added.

Jenrick replied that Seely had 鈥渘ot seen the bill yet鈥�. He added: 鈥漌hen he does, I hope he will be reassured and converted into an enthusiastic supporter of it.

鈥滺e and I are going to meet in the coming days, and I hope I will be able to reassure him that this is not about casting aside the good, but about reforming and building on it so that we can have the planning system we all deserve.鈥�

There was also some disagreement among Tory backbenchers over plans to tackle 鈥漧andbanking鈥�, where developers buy up plots and secure planning permission but delay building until it is commercially viable.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph this week, Jenrick said that the government was looking at ways to stop the practice. Measures being considered including levies on land with planning permission that has not been built on.

Harrow East MP Bob Blackman suggested that developers should be given an 18-month deadline to start on site or lose their planning permission, and that if they have not built the homes within three years that they should be charged full council tax on all dwellings that have not been built.

But Rugby MP Mark Pawsey argued that a levy would 鈥渆ncourage developers simply to delay putting in their applications until they are absolutely ready to build鈥�.

He added that it could lead to applications 鈥渃oming in en masse in good times and little activity at lower times鈥�.

Jenrick insisted that the government was working 鈥渄ay and night鈥� in the interests of small housebuilders, adding: 鈥淚t is the little guy whose side we are on and that is why we are committed to reforming the system.鈥�