MPs have criticised proposals for changes to planning law by the coalition government.

Joan Walley, chair of the environmental audit committee, described the plans as "confusing" and "contradictory".

She said: "It pays lip service to sustainable development without providing a clear definition, potentially leaving future planning decisions open to legal challenges."

Ms Walley added the final draft of the planning law reform, which is laid out in the National Planning Policy Framework, needs to acknowledge and take into account the fact there are environmental limits to how much development an area is able to sustain.

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman confirmed that comments made by the committee will be considered as the coalition government thinks about changes to the planning law reform proposals.

Friends of the Earth's executive director Andy Atkins recently stated any upgrade to planning law needs to consider the impact development has on the state of the environment.