Infrastructure minister Melanie Schultz has abandoned her plans to relax building regulations along the Dutch coast after protests from environmental groups and MPs.

‘I have witnessed the unease and the discussion,’ she said. ‘I will not now scrap the building ban.’

The minister took the decision after it emerged a clear majority of MPs, including the coalition Labour party, would vote against the move.

The cabinet agreed just before Christmas to scrap the ban on building on the coast and in the dunes because it would benefit the economy.