Mr Salter said the area south west of Reading floods regularly

Martin Salter, MP for Reading West, said he feared the proposals for Kennet Valley Park, near Reading, would put existing homes in the area at risk.

Prudential, the company behind the scheme, said it planned to put excess flood water in an upstream lake surrounded by a 9ft (2.7m) wall.

The Environment Agency has objected to the plans on flood risk grounds.

It could even put Reading town centre at risk Martin Salter Reading West MP

Mr Salter told BBC News: "I'm particularly worried that the applicants, Prudential, have given no indication about how this 9ft wall is actually going to be maintained and secured.

"If it was breached, we would have a huge amount of water cascading down the Kennet Valley, and it could even put Reading town centre at risk.

"I haven't got a problem with building more houses - we need more houses in the Reading area, we've got a terrible housing shortage - but not at any price."

'Fundamental objection'

The Environment Agency said the area outlined for development was not an appropriate place to build 7,500 houses and the infrastructure needed to go with them.

Spokesman Geoff Bell said: "We have a fundamental objection and we believe that it goes completely against the government planning guidance.

"Their [Prudential's] solution to put the flood water into a lake with raised banks still doesn't totally remove the risk."

In a statement Prudential said issues raised by the Environment Agency were being carefully considered.

It added that storing excess flood water in the lake would help protect more than 400 houses.

The plans are to be examined by Reading Borough Council next month.