The coalition government has been urged to make sure its changes to the planning law system increase levels of democracy in this area rather than reduce them.

Action for Market Towns (AMT) stated there is a lack of clarity within the draft National Planning Policy Framework.

Policy manager Alison Eardley explained the fact planning minister Greg Clark has admitted more work needs to be done must be welcomed.

"We would urge the government to define sustainable development in terms of assessing proposed developments by weighing up their impacts on environment, population and economy equally," she said.

The AMT representative explained this would increase the chances of an "informed and balanced decision" being made as a result.

This comes shortly after the Communities and Local Government Committee, in its review of the National Planning Policy Framework, called for the default answer of 'yes' to development to be removed from the planning law reform, as this could lead to several ambiguities being introduced.