In quotes: Planning law shake-up

The Scottish Executive has unveiled new measures aimed at speeding up the planning process and making it easier to progress large projects.

Here is reaction to the new Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.

COMMUNITIES MINISTER MALCOLM CHISHOLM

We think the right way to proceed is to give as much opportunity as possible to communities before applications are decided and also to strengthen the enforcement. That seems to me to be what a lot of communities are asking for, rather than this kind of totem of third party right of appeal, which would not deliver what communities want.

SNP SOCIAL JUSTICE SPOKESWOMAN CHRISTINE GRAHAME

Of serious concern is the bill's proposal for a national planning framework, which allows ministers to deem large-scale projects - such as nuclear waste sites developments - as being of 'national importance'. These developments will not be subject to public enquiry and the only scrutiny they will be subjected to is 'parliamentary consideration' by MSPs.

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SCOTLAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE DUNCAN MCLAREN

There remains a very real risk that these reforms could be a planning disaster for many communities. Our fight for a fairer planning system for all communities is only just beginning.

COSLA PLANNING SPOKESMAN WILLIE DUNN

With this bill, Cosla hopes that plan-led development and regeneration can once again be achieved in Scotland. We don't need third party right of appeal in a robust planning system, local government recognises the need for the community voice in development planning, but Cosla continues to believe that widening rights of appeal is not the most inclusive means to achieve that engagement.

GREEN MSP PATRICK HARVIE

It will come back to haunt Labour and Lib Dems because communities will feel conned by the new regime, with no recourse to an appeal.

RSPB SCOTLAND DIRECTOR STUART HOUSDEN

We are surprised that the executive has published a bill which simultaneously claims to contribute to sustainable development yet introduces a procedure which ensures that the most potentially damaging proposals will not be subject to public scrutiny or testing.

SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENT LINK PRESIDENT FRED EDWARDS

Local communities will not be given the same rights as developers, nor will they be able to influence decisions on some of the largest and most controversial proposals in Scotland.

SCOTTISH RENEWABLES CHIEF EXECUTIVE MAF SMITH

The renewables industry in Scotland welcomes the draft planning bill. The executive's willingness to reform the planning system in favour of an efficient one that meets the needs of industry and communities is a major step forward for Scotland.

CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITIES SPOKESWOMAN MARY SCANLON

We welcome the absence of third party right of appeal, but we want to see the inclusion of a real and meaningful right to consultation on the local plans, not just the usual suspects invited to comment when the conclusion has already been made.