RURAL communities could be “hardest hit” as a new Planning Bill creates barriers to jobs, business and diversity, a landowners’ group claims.

But the Scottish Greens claim the current system must be overhauled to “reset where power lies” and avoid “mass centralisation”.

New legislation aimed at shaking up the system enters its third stage at the Scottish Parliament this week.

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), which represents countryside business and landowners, says amendments to the Bill – like removing private ways from permitted development rights or applying a third party right of appeal – will “slow the planning process down without bringing any benefit” and harm the sustainability of small communities.

But, over three days of debate, Green MSPs will bring a series of amendments aimed at toughening the legislation. These include moves to make air pollution a national planning framework priority and efforts to prevent the bulldozing of hill tracks without consent.

Issuing a message to MSPs, SLE’s Gavin Mowat said: “Rural businesses in Scotland want to see a planning system that can help them deliver the employment and housing which diverse rural communities need. They require a flexible and proportionate planning system to enable them to continue to thrive, particularly in uncertain times.

“The requirements of almost one million people living in rural communities need to be given full consideration as the Planning Bill is passing through parliament. We urge MSPs to back amendments that will support rural communities in building resilience through diversity.”

In May, Andy Wightman, the Greens’ local government and economy spokesperson, accused the SNP and Tories of working to “sabotage” his plan to boost regulation of short-term rentals.

In a fresh comment made yesterday, Wightman, who advocates action on Airbnb and similar lettings to ease residential housing pressures, again hit out at those parties, saying: “The Planning Bill should have been an opportunity to reset where power lies and give people a far greater say in decisions which affect them, but instead it looks like an SNP-Tory stitch-up is going to usher in an era of mass centralisation, leaving communities frozen out once again.

“Green MSPs have worked hard to strengthen what was a lacklustre Bill and we’ll fight for our amendments this week, which include measures to regulate hill tracks and short term lets, improve air quality and protect natural habitats.

“These are important issues that people care about and we’ll do everything we can to win support for them. But if the SNP chooses to side with Tories and their corporate and landed interests it will be a huge blow for hopes of building a fairer, more equal Scotland.”

Planning Minister Kevin Stewart has previously stated that the “extraordinary number” of “well-meaning” amendments turned stage two of the Bill into a “guddle”.