RADICAL Government plans to shake up planning laws have been opposed by Durham University chancellor Bill Bryson.

As groups such as the National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds line up against the proposals to ease new development across the country, Mr Bryson said he was deeply concerned by the direction of the policy.

Concerns have previously been raised about the changes, which could allow for planning on green areas or open space.

The American writer, who champions English countryside and is president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), said: “The Government’s good intentions risk being undermined by the talk of economic growth at any cost.

“We are deeply worried to learn that environmental laws are regarded as red tape and that the planning system might be weakened to allow for more development.”

Mr Bryson’s intervention in the increasingly bitter debate came as countryside, amenity and environmental groups stepped up pressure on the planning minister, Greg Clark, to rethink the proposals.

Mr Clark said he was willing to discuss details with groups such as the National Trust, but said there would be no U-turn.

Critics believe that a new emphasis on development would lead to the loss of green space and unjustified speculative development.

The National Trust’s director general, Fiona Reynolds, is to ask all of its 3.8million members to sign a petition and to lobby their MPs to force the coalition to “completely rethink the draft planning laws”. So far around 12,000 people have signed the trust’s petition.

If more than 100,000 add their names to the list it is likely to force a Commons debate.