Government whips could be used to push through controversial planning decisions for major building projects.

Planning minister Lord Falconer admitted to a Commons committee on Tuesday that under proposals set out in his green paper, party whips could be used to push through a government backed project such as Heathrow's fifth terminal.

Falconer told MPs the aim of his reforms was to create a quicker system that made decisions on nationally important projects like airports, rail links and roads more democratically accountable .

He claimed new parliamentary procedures could cut years off the lengthy and cumbersome planning process without damaging the right of communities to object to construction schemes.

The minister explained how the new system, if it becomes law, would work. "Parliament decides in principle whether or not terminal five should be built but it's a decision in principle. There is then the public inquiry that looks into the detail. The secretary of state then takes the final decision," he said.

Falconer said the current system meant controversial plans for major public infrastructure projects ended up with a government minister to make the final decision.

"Every single one has been called in by the relevant secretary of state. What we are saying in these proposals is that when dealing with a national project is that parliament should have a say in deciding whether those projects should go ahead," Falconer told the committee.

Committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody claimed that if the debate to discuss the plans was whipped then MPs would have little option to oppose it.

"They can affect it, they can express views in relation to it," said Lord Falconer.

Replying to another question, the minister admitted that if the government supported a particular project it was likely to be whipped, meaning Labour MPs would be expected to vote in its favour.

"In many cases it will be a government bill. I would imagine it will be whipped business," he said.

Falconer said his department had examined other planning systems from around the world but stressed that had not been the reason for the overhaul.

"We took account of what other countries did but that was not our starting point," he said. "Long, long delays are bad for the community as they are for business. They blight areas for years," he said.