Government plans giving ministers powers to introduce secondary legislation on planning obligations should be treated with caution, the Law Society has warned.

Provisions have been inserted into the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, which would allow ministers to introduce legislation governing planning agreements.

This could include new alternatives to planning agreements, such as developers paying a contribution to the local authority involved, rather than addressing the impact of their developments themselves.

Law Society President Peter Williamson said the Society was concerned that 'such an important aspect of the town and country planning system should be framed in secondary legislation', especially as the government's consultation on the issue has yet to conclude.

The Society's response to the consultation said the existing legislation limits the use of planning agreements to restricting the use or development of land, requiring operations or activities on land, requiring the use of land in a specific way, or requiring the payment of money.

Mr Williamson said: 'Such agreements cannot provide for the provision of, for example, affordable housing, play spaces, green travel plans or lorry routing - all issues which solicitors are frequently having to address.'