PLANS to build hundreds of new homes on a South Devon flood plain have been condemned as "irresponsible", in the wake of the recent deluge that devastated parts of the Westcountry.

The proposals are part of the planning blueprint for the future of Teignbridge, revealed by the district council as part of its local development framework.

As part of the scheme, the council has identified the so-called 'Northern Option' - which would see the development of redundant clay workings and other land at Kingsteignton - are its preferred site for the project.

The scheme has already courted controversy, with residents arguing that the scale of the development could swamp the village, as well as leading to increased traffic congestion.

However, the recent catastrophic flooding that crippled much of the South West has prompted Anne Marie Morris to highlight a new, substantial problem with the proposed site.

Anne Marie, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Newton Abbot, has questioned the prudence of building such a development on a site which lies in a flood plain.

Although recognizing the need for more homes to be made available in the area, and in particular affording housing, she condemned as "highly irresponsible" the proposals to allow the development to be site on a flood plain.

Anne Marie said: "Teignbridge District Council's plan to potentially build hundreds of homes on a flood plain north of Kingsteignton - the so-called 'northern option' - can be seen, in the light of recent events, as hugely irresponsible.

"It should not be allowed unless the safety of both assets and homes can be absolutely guaranteed.' Anne Marie's comment come soon after Peter Ainsworth, the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, called for urgent discussions within Government about the "lunacy" of continuing to build houses on flood plains.

At the time, Mr Ainsworth warned: "If your Government fails to respond to the challenges of climate change with a coherent joined-up approach and a much greater sense of urgency the terrible events we have all been witnessing in the last few days are likely to happen again and again and again."