National Trust chairman, Sir Simon Jenkins, has warned MPs that language underpinning the controversial National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ‘is so vague as to be legally actionable' at all stages.

Addressing the cross-party communities and local government select committee on October 17, Sir Simon, a former editor of The Times, said the planned regime ‘won't deliver faster, cleaner or more local planning' and that court cases would continue to decide contentious issues. Branding NPPF ‘a gift to lawyers' he continued: ‘I can't think of a better recipe for judicial review.'