Planners were today urged to stop building key developments away from good transport links.

Planners were today urged to stop building key developments away from good transport links.

MSPs heard how major projects - such as the new Southern General Hospital in Glasgow - were built in the "wrong place".

They were also told how past decisions on housebuilding led in part for the need for a new Forth crossing.

Academics raised the issue with MSPs on the Scottish Parliament's transport, infrastructure and climate change committee.

Members are investigating a national planning framework of 12 projects, including the proposed Forth crossing.

Dr Iain Docherty, from the University of Glasgow's department of management, alluded to the hospital as an example of miss-match between planning and transport.

"We're still making significant public investments which are not consistent with the aspirations of the national transport strategy," he said.

"Siting of certain large hospitals in Glasgow might be another excellent example of where £892 million of public money is being invested, in an albeit excellent facility, but from a transport perspective it's completely in the wrong place.

"The first thing we've got to do is stop making mistakes and stop making it worse."

He also said houses were sometimes built in the wrong places, which heaped further pressure on the transport network.

Labour MSP Des McNulty told the committee that similar lapses led to the need for a new Forth crossing because homes had been built across the water in Fife.

Dr Docherty added: "The amount of movement across the Forth is effectively the price we're paying for having the Edinburgh green belt."

The committee also heard from the Sustainable Development Commission Scotland which said the 12 projects can bring economic benefits.

But the group warned: "Eight of the 12 projects are likely to lead to significant increases in emissions at a time when the Government is looking to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions."

A freight "hub" at Grangemouth, a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston and facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games are among the projects on the list.