Labour's next generation of nuclear power plants could be built on land at high risk of flooding, it emerged yesterday.

Ministers have refused to rule out building the controversial reactors in areas vulnerable to rising sea levels, flash floods and burst river banks.

Environmentally sensitive parts of the UK - areas of outstanding natural beauty or those that are home to rare wildlife - could also be used, according to draft guidance from the Department for Business.

'Desperate': The government are so keen to build new nuclear power stations, they are willing to consider environmentally sensitive and high flood-risk land

The Government is keen to build up to ten new nuclear power stations to help tackle the UK's looming energy crisis and wants a list of proposed sites by 2010.

Britain's ten existing plants currently produce a fifth of the country's electricity. But by 2023, all but one will have reached the end of its working life and will be shut.

Under rules published yesterday by Business Secretary John Hutton, sites at risk of earthquake, or near large towns and cities, would be instantly ruled out.

But concerns about flood risk, coastal erosion and 'environmentally-protected' status would be considered 'less absolute' and could be overridden.

Using new powers in the Planning Bill, the Government is expected to fast-track the applications to stop locals opposing nuclear plants.

Work on the first new plants could start in 2013, with the first running four years later.

Mr Hutton said: 'Nuclear power is an essential part of our future energy mix. We must do everything we can to remove any remaining barriers and open up the UK as the most attractive place in the world to invest in nuclear power.'

The Department for Business dismissed reports earlier this month that it has already drawn up a list of sites alongside existing reactors - including Sizewell in Suffolk, Bradwell in Essex, Dungeness in Kent, Hinkley Point in Somerset, Hartlepool in the North-East and Heysham in Lancashire - as the most suitable places.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Steve Webb said: 'The Government appears to have abandoned common sense when it comes to new nuclear power.'