Sustainable development must be at the heart of Britain's planning system, one organisation has claimed.

In order to help with the delivery of economic growth, there needs to be a better definition of what sustainable development entails, a representative from the National Trust has argued.

Ian Wilson, head of government affairs at the group, said: "The planning system is [...] not purely a tool for economic growth – it is something much greater than that. It was created to help manage and deal with the externalities of development."

Mr Wilson commented that it should be ensured that the economic and environmental costs of installing the technologies are as low as possible.

Last month, a Policy Exchange report suggested that the government must deliver private sector urban areas in close proximity to existing towns, if it is serious about delivering growth.

It also urged for wide-ranging reforms to the planning system as a means of allowing good quality homes to be constructed in the suburbs of towns and cities.