Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was today urged to reject "disastrous" proposals for more than a million new homes across

Sussex and the South East.

The call comes in a letter signed by a cross-party group of 70 Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs in Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire.

They warn that South East Regional Planning Guidance plans unveiled earlier this month are the equivalent of five new cities.

In their letter, the MPs say: "Building the equivalent to five cities the size of Southampton in the South East, with all the associated pressure on existing infrastructure, would have a profoundly negative impact on the quality of life enjoyed by those currently living in the region."

The MPs warn the effect of the building would be to draw people, investment and economic growth away from those areas of the country that are proportionately in greater need.

They say it is likely the inner city areas of the

Midlands and the north of England would face greater challenges of depopulation and dilapidation as a result of a house-building policy that promotes the movement of the most

economically active and mobile people to the South East.

Shadow Environment Minister Nigel Waterson, Conservative MP for Eastbourne, said "A million

new homes in the South East would fundamentally change the character of life in Sussex and destroy the environment. It would no longer be the county we know and love."

Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames said: This is environmental vandalism which would make a mockery of Labour's policy to expand and protect green belt

land.

"These proposals would place unbearable pressure upon infrastructure in the region and would hinder the redirection of investment to areas of need."

Mr Soames added: "I am very concerned that no Labour backbenchers

have chosen to add their names to this cross-party approach.

"Labour are not standing up for their constituents in the face of this terrible threat to our countryside and living standards.

"We must ensure all pressure is brought to bear on John Prescott so that the report is rejected."

The panel is recommending a major expansion of the area around Crawley and Gatwick and a review of the countryside gap between Crawley and East Grinstead.

It says the target of almost 670,000 new houses across the South East should be increased to 1.1 million by 2016.

Mr Prescott said he wanted an end to the old "predict and provide" method of calculating how many new homes would be needed in future, due in part to the rising divorce rate and greater life expectancy.

And he has increased targets for building on inner city brownfield sites to encourage families to live closer to work.

Hove Labour MP Ivor Caplin declined to sign the letter to Mr Prescott.

He stressed he had more direct means of raising such issues with ministers.

He said: "The key issue about the South East is we do need new homes.

"The question is where do we put them?"

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