A warning from MPs that thousands of new homes due to be built across the country will lack sufficient supporting infrastructure has been roundly dismissed by the government.
The Commons environmental audit committee said John Prescott's department was showing a "fundamental lack of urgency" in its approach to the issue.
Thursday's report said the committee was "deeply concerned that the ODPM is determined to build new homes first and then worry later, if at all, about how the supporting infrastructure can be created".
"We recommend that HM Treasury should also consider reducing both stamp duty and council tax for those homes built to high environmental standards," the study added.
"We are pleased to welcome the ODPM's latest decision to set minimum standards of energy and water efficiency for every level of the code for sustainable homes.
"However, we are anxious to know exactly what these standards will be and when they will come into effect.
"ODPM must make these details available at the earliest opportunity."
There was also a warning that delaying decisions on how to fund the infrastructure for new housing until the 2007 comprehensive spending review was "a massive planning failure".
Committee chairman Tim Yeo expressed concern that consideration of the environmental impacts of new homes "ranks below a significant number of other economic and social factors".
"Indeed, houses are already being built, and will continue to be built, without sufficient regard to strong environmental standard," he warned.
"Reliance on developers to gradually begin to 'do the right thing' on a voluntary basis, we believe, is misplaced and is symptomatic not only of ODPM's reluctance to take on the building sector but also of a fundamental lack of urgency in the government's approach to ensuring that new housing and new communities are truly sustainable.
"What we find reprehensible is the clear signal from government that it really does not matter that these homes are going to be built before supporting infrastructure is in place."
But the government dismissed that conclusion as "absurd".
Planning minister Yvette Cooper said: "The idea the government is going slow on infrastructure or the environment is absurd when we are increasing energy efficiency in new homes by 40 per cent this April and investing billions already in the Thames gateway and other areas to support new homes.
"I welcome the fact that the committee has now recognised the pressing case for building new homes.
"But their report simply does not reflect the substantial progress that is being made on infrastructure investment and environmental improvements."
