Hundreds of homes in Shropshire could be built on flood plains and are in danger of becoming “unsaleable, uninhabitable and uninsurable”, it was claimed today.

The Countryside Alliance said that despite changes to Government planning policy in 2006 to ensure flooding is taken into account at all stages to prevent inappropriate development, thousands of homes were already planned in at-risk areas.

Among the 3,655 homes earmarked for construction on flood plains in the West Midlands, about a quarter are in Shropshire – 580 in north Shropshire and 377 in Telford & Wrekin.

The alliance admitted the region faced a flooding “time-bomb”.

Clare Rowson, Midlands regional director of the Countryside Alliance said: “There is no point addressing the problem of affordable housing by building houses that are unsustainable because of flooding.

“Climate change and the increasing frequency of major flooding incidents have led the Government to address the risk of flooding for new development through the planning process.

“This does not, however, address the legacy of development proposed before the new policy.”

The warning comes as two influential reports accused the Government of under-estimating the flood risk facing Britain.

Scientists at Durham University warned the number of homes at risk from flooding is under-estimated, while a cross-party group of MPs raised similar concerns earlier this week.

The figures make miserable reading – last year’s catastrophic downpours cost insurers £3 billion in payouts, including £700 million in the West Midlands as severe flooding blighted Shropshire and neighbouring counties.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “It is councils who take decisions on individual developments but we have put in place the toughest ever planning rules.

“For the first time all councils must now consult the Environment Agency on their housing plans to ensure all new homes are safe from flooding and properly sustainable for the future.

“We have also made it clear the Government is prepared to take over decisions if any councils persists with plans against the Environment Agency’s advice.”

By Rural Affairs Editor Nathan Rous