A Midland MP's campaign to stop developers concreting over gardens has received a boost after it won cross-party backing.

Caroline Spelman (Con Meriden) is promoting new laws to end "garden grabbing", in which developers buy up homes in order to build new housing such as blocks of flats on gardens. She claims the practice is damaging standards of living in her constituency.

Her campaign has now won the support of Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt, who represents the neighbouring constituency of Solihull. In a show of cross-party unity, she pledged to back her Tory colleague next time the proposals were debated in the House of Commons.

Mrs Spelman's Land Use (Garden Protection) Bill would give councils the ability to turn down planning applications which involve building on gardens.

It is also backed by Labour MPs including Gisela Stuart (Lab Edgbaston) as well as Tory colleagues including Michael Fabricant (Con Lichfield) and Julie Kirkbride (Con Bromsgrove).

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs Spelman highlighted an example in her constituency to illustrate the problem.

She said: "In Marston Green in my constituency, on Elmdon Lane there is an application to demolish two family homes and replace them with 71 new dwellings.

"Just think about the impact of that development. This is a narrow, tree lined lane, with a humpback bridge, where there is the potential for traffic levels to increase by 3,400 per cent as a result of garden grabbing."

The Bill is set to be debated again in the Commons on June 13.

It is unlikely to become law, but to have any chance of success Mrs Spelman will need to win widespread cross-party support for the measure.

Ms Burt said: "I welcome the introduction of this Bill by Caroline Spelman. We represent neighbouring constituencies and speak with one voice on this issue, which is very important to Solihull residents."

She added: "Ministers must not be allowed to forget that back garden development is a big issue in areas where our leafy urban environment is under threat because of excessive infill development."

Presenting her proposals to the House of Commons, Mrs Spelman told MPs: "In my current Bill, I am once again asking for a simple provision to be made in planning law so that local councils can, where they feel it appropriate, protect gardens from being built on.

"Ministers claim that such a power already exists in changes that they have made to planning guidance, but the evidence from my constituency since the introduction of that and other guidance shows that the problem continues."

She added: "The impact on the environment, infrastructure and people’s quality of life has been disastrous. Gardens are a valuable source of biodiversity. They are a haven for wildlife and play a critical role in getting the balance right between the built and the natural environments."

However, she was opposed by MP Denis MacShane (Lab Rotherham), who said the Bill ignored "our obligation to provide new homes for the new generation".

He added: "All or most of our homes were built on what was once someone’s garden or field and filled up a very pleasant view.

"In my own constituency of Rotherham, the house I live in was built under Harold Macmillan in the 1950s in what was previously someone’s back garden."

He continued: "The Bill will deny to many of our constituents the freedom to buy and sell their land as they think best."