Rishi Sunak's decision to scrap housing targets helped pave the way to the Tory local election drubbing, a former minister has fumed.
Ex-Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke branded the move a "major mistake" as the Government comes under attack.
Mr Sunak caved in to demands from Tory rebels and abandoned mandatory housebuilding targets last year, despite huge demand for new homes. Last week he was accused by Labour of "killing the dream of homeownership for a generation".
This, and the chaos unleashed by Boris Johnson and Liz Truss last year, was behind the election drubbing which saw the Conservatives shed over 1,000 council seats, Mr Clarke said.
The senior Conservative told BBC Radio 4's Today: "In these results there is one theme that stands out above all others for me is that we cannot out-nimby the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, so one aspect of policy that does need to change and change as a matter of urgency is our housing policy.
"So we can get back to building the homes that people need, making the case - the moral, economic, political case - for building the homes that a growing population requires rather than, I'm afraid, trying to pander to the public's worst instincts on this question, which isn't working. I would say that dropping those targets was a major mistake and I would like those restored."
The Tories’ 2019 manifesto included a commitment to build 300,000 homes a year - a target the Government is yet to achieve.
But last year the PM pulled a crunch vote after nearly 50 Tory MPs called for housing targets to be abandoned altogether.
Last week he came under fire during Prime Minister's Questions, when Labour leader Keir Starmer said the decision to scrap housing targets is "killing the dream of homeownership for a generation"
He said: "Every week, whatever the topic he stands there and pretends everything is fine across the country and every week he does so, he reinforces just how out of touch he is.
He added: "£9,000 would take four years, they think it's funny... roughly the annual bill to heat his swimming pool, but for most people, four more years of scrimping is a hammer blow to their ambitions and now he's kicking them when they're down, because his decision to scrap housing targets is killing the dream of homeownership for a generation. Why doesn't he admit he got it wrong and reverse it?"
Mr Sunak replied: "I promised to put local people in control of new housing and I'm proud that that's what I've delivered within six weeks of becoming Prime Minister."
