New measures to accelerate planning applications and appeals have come into force.

Under the new measures the time limit for lodging an appeal against a planning, listed building or conservation area ruling will be cut from six months to three.

Planning authorities will also be forced explain why they decided to grant applications in a bid to make the process more transparent.

Keith Hill, the government's planning minister, said he wanted to make the system "faster, fairer and more efficient".

"These changes will speed up the system and make it more open. People will still be able to appeal against decisions - but by cutting the time from six to three months, we will remove unnecessary delay," he said.

"I also want to see RDAs involved in major proposals likely to have an economic significance that extends to their region.

Hill added that the planning system should "deliver strategic economic decisions" rather than hinder them.