The homes are earmarked for the area between the A38 and A379

South Hams District Council originally proposed 3,500 new homes in a string of villages along the Sherford Valley, between the A38 and A379 east of Plymouth.

But neighbouring councils, including the county council, Torbay, Dartmoor and Plymouth, called for the plan to include an extra 1,000 homes.

South Hams says the additional homes will form an unsightly urban sprawl, effectively an offshoot of Plymouth.

Richard Yonge, leader of the council, said: "We thought this was the best site and we designed it to a very high quality.

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"By having another 1,000 homes it will not enable us to achieve that."

Ian Harrison, one of the architects of the structure plan, said: "I know they have put quite a lot of effort into looking into the form of development which would best deliver sustainable communities."

Campaigners have held a series of protests against the plans.

They say space for houses should be found in Plymouth.

A public inquiry will be held in June.