Flooding could cause serious damage to electricity sub-stations and transport links in Shropshire over the next 20 years, a new report has revealed.

An in-depth analysis for the West Midlands Regional Assembly warns the effect of climate change and freak summer summer storms over the next 20 years will be made worse by plans to build up to 445,600 new homes in the region.

Many of the suggested development sites already have a history of groundwater flooding.

The study says Shrewsbury and Telford & Wrekin are among the areas at medium risk of flooding but the consequences in terms of damage to electricity sub-stations and transport links are described as serious.

Local councils are being urged to take flood-prevention action to prevent new housing from making existing problems worse.

Shirehall planners are aiming to report this summer on the steps the new Shropshire Council can taken to lessen the impact of flooding on the county.

The study also criticises the absence of a single public body with responsibility to respond to flooding and claims that restrictions imposed by the Data Protection Act are preventing councils from publishing maps showing the specific location of recorded floods.

The regional assembly will take on the Government at a public inquiry next month in an attempt to cut drastically the number of new homes the region is expected to build.

Just last month a Shropshire County Council watchdog committee warned the new unitary authority will need to find, as a matter of urgency, the money to improve land drainage and flood risk management.

It was agreed to ask the current council cabinet to give “very high priority” to plugging the gap in technical expertise that exists and considering where extra finances will come from.

Phil Crossland, assistant director, highways and transport, said it was hoped to present a flood risk management report to councillors in June, setting out the strategies needed.

“It is an issue that we recognise we need to address,” said Mr Crossland. “You can never prevent flooding totally but from a planning point of view you can put policies in place to minimise the risk.”

By Dave Morris