A committee of MPs has warned that the government's housing plans fail to do enough to protect the environment.

The report, published on Sunday by the Commons environmental audit committee, said that the deputy prime minister's plans were "failing" the environment.

According to the committee, the plans call into question the democratic nature of the current planning system.

The MPs said it was "astounding" that the government had not assessed the overall environmental impact of plans to build tens of thousands more houses.

Peter Ainsworth, committee chairman, said housing policy was "an alarming example of disjointed thinking in an areas where joined-up policy is crucial".

"I accept the need to improve housing supply but, as things stand, the principal beneficiary of housing growth will be property developers, with the environment we all depend on being the principal loser," he said.

Army of bulldozers

Responding to the report, Prescott said the committee had condemned the housing plan before all the details has been announced.

"We are working across government, especially with our colleagues at Defra, to create cleaner, safer and greener communities, while protecting and enhancing the environment," he added.

But Caroline Spelman, shadow local government secretary, said the building programme "is environmentally unsustainable, leaving a concrete scar across the face of rural England".

"Only Conservatives have pledged to abolish the Communities Plan, scrap his regional house-building targets, and let local people have the final say on local developments," she said.

"It is time for Mr Prescott to call off his army of bulldozers that are set to ruin England’s green fields."