Housing minister Mona Keijzer has torn up rules which would require building firms to install nesting boxes and insect hotels in all new homes, she said in a briefing to MPs.

Her predecessor Hugo de Jonge wanted nesting boxes and other amenities for birds and bats to be part of the building regulations but according to Keijzer this would constitute “a new sustainability requirement” on top of European regulations.

The new government has pledged not to introduce tougher rules for construction other than those already mandated by Brussels.

The minister also said the obligation would not be in line with her newly introduced programme to abolish contradictory and superfluous rules, the abbreviation of which spells STOER, or “tough”.

The plan to encourage insect, bird and bat-friendly construction had not yet been passed by parliament.

Sparrows, bats and swifts are becoming increasingly rare because newly built homes no longer have places where they can build their nests. Sparrows and swifts often nest under roof tiles and in nooks and crannies, and bats can often be found in cavity walls.

The measure was welcomed by Caroline van der Plas, leader of the pro-countryside BBB, who said Keijzer’s move was “great” and would encourage more construction.

But bird protection group Vogelbescherming said the decision was extremely disappointing seeing as the construction sector, civil servants and environmental groups had been working on the proposals for two years.

“There is a reason that the house sparrow is now on the red list of endangered species,” the organisation said.