The Conservative Party's green paper detailing proposed changes to the way town planning jobs are carried out has met with a mixed response.
Among the ideas suggested by the opposition were ending the Community Infrastructure Levy and reinstating the presumption in favour of sustainable developments.
Brian Berry, external affairs director for the Federation of Master Builders, welcomed the proposals and suggested that changes to town planning regulations would help to support the construction industry at a difficult time.
He added that any move to replace the Community Infrastructure Levy with a tariff system would make the planning system "fairer and more consistent".
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) also backed the move to support sustainable development, but raised doubts about some of the other proposed changes to the town planning regulations.
Kate Henderson, the TCPA's interim chief executive, said she is particularly concerned about the idea of abolishing regional development plans.
"While the regional tier has been flawed due to its lack of accountability, the need for planning at the sub-regional scale - which makes social, environmental and economic sense - remains overwhelming," Ms Henderson commented.
She added that any major changes to the way in which town planning jobs are carried out must put the issues of renewable energy, affordable housing and employment first.
