The government's proposals to improve the planning system will actually undermine it, rural campaigners have warned.

Speaking on Tuesday ahead of the report stage of the Planning Bill, the Campaign to Protect Rural England argued that the legislation risks centralising the decision-making process unless amendments made in the Lords are accepted.

Rural safeguards will be undermined, the organisation claimed, as references to the environment or areas of natural beauty will be removed from the original Act, while economic and planning policy will be allowed to compete.

In addition, clauses reducing the role of county councils in the planning process will reduce the involvement of residents.

"This is the moment of truth for the government on planning," said CPRE head of planning, Henry Oliver.

"It's now or never. Either the government accepts amendments to its Planning Bill to stop it undermining good planning, or we shall all suffer the consequences for years to come.

"The Lords have given the Bill the searching examination the House of Commons signally failed to - and it has been found woefully lacking.

"Even the government described it as having received a 'drubbing'. Planning is vital to everyone's quality of life. It's a positive force in protecting our environment, directing necessary change and securing public consensus over decisions.

"However, there's a grave danger that the government sees planning as just a way of forcing through development regardless of public opinion or the long-term environmental cost."