The government's plans for a shake-up in the planning system are "fatally flawed", according to Henry Oliver, head of planning at the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Speaking at a seminar in Bristol, attended by planning minister Lord Falconer, Oliver will say that the government's proposals would remove strategic planning for controversial issues such as housing to an undemocratic regional level.

Forum Response: Countryside Agency

David Coleman, director of the Countryside Agency, told ePolitix.com: "The time is ripe to reform the planning system to focus more on the positive, getting the right developments for tomorrow's communities.

"We want to see five basic improvements to the planning system and we are extremely pleased to see all of these elements covered by the government's plans. We will be closely watching these policies as they develop, to ensure that a better planning system for all develops, that takes full account of the rural dimension.

"We have been calling for a new purpose for planning - focusing on working out where each community needs to be in 10 years and how development can help to get them there.

"We also want proper links with spending plans - local development plans should be prepared in collaboration with the responsible funding bodies so that public funding follows the plan and people can see how development will be managed and a new style plan and development approval process which won't get bogged down in site disputes that only benefit the professionals rather than the communities.

"The Countryside Agency is also in favour of sustainable development commitments - legally binding contracts between local authorities and developers and proper planning for affordable housing so that new housing in the countryside suits secure mixed communities."