MPs have voted against housing minister Mona Keijzer’s decision to remove nest and bat boxes from the list of requirements for all new homes, describing it as “symbol politics”.

A narrow majority of MPs, including coalition party NSC, voted in favour of a motion that calls on the minister not to make the change. Keijzer wanted to scrap the rule as part of her crackdown on unnecessary legislation.

Both environmental campaigners and the construction sector had earlier criticised Keijzer, saying the cost savings were minimal but the impact on biodiversity would be more serious.

The minister can ignore the vote if she so chooses.