THE derelict old Abbey Garage site in Tavistock looks set to be transformed to help meet the spiralling need for affordable housing in the town.

The scheme moved a step closer this week with the submission of plans for a four-storey building containing 24 flats.

The development would be situated at the derelict site at the junction of Whitchurch Road and Dolvin Road.

A full planning application to build the flats and associated works was submitted to the borough council by West Devon Homes last week — the site is owned by West Devon Borough Council.

Stuart Davies, chief executive of West Devon Homes, said: 'Hopefully, we can come up with something in keeping with the town and the square, and can provide something that will release some of the pressure for rented accommodation in the town.'

The proposed 24 flats would be a mix of one and two bedroom properties with one flat specially designed for use by a disabled person with access and support needs.

Mr Davies said: 'There is a debate with the council about whether parts of the development could be for specific groups — for example, elderly people, but at this stage it's designed to meet general needs.'

He said rented accommodation in Tavistock was much needed as there had been an increase of around 25 per cent in the number of people registering for it in West Devon in the past 18 months.

West Devon Homes became interested in developing the old Abbey Garage site for housing this January and was chosen as nominated developer for the site in April.

Mr Davies said the company had been working closely with council planners and architects Steen Mitchell, to ensure the application was in keeping with what was an 'extremely sensitive site'.

The proposals show a two-storey building stepping up to a larger four-storey building, which was 'quite an exciting design,' said Mr Davies, and would fit in with adjoining cottages.

He said the plan, if approved, would develop an area which was currently a void, and would to some degree bring a full stop to the town centre.

'Every other corner of the square has impressive or historic buildings, if we can put a building in there picking up points of reference from other parts of the square, it would finish it off.'

Stephen Gill, borough head of planning, said great care had been taken over the application. The designs set out in the plan still have to be examined by officers before going to the committee stage.

'This is a very important site, a prominent site, and we need to be absolutely sure regarding the detailed plan.

'We have been negotiating with West Devon Homes for quite some time. It is the fine detail that we now will begin consulting on.'

Mr Gill said across the whole of the borough there was a need for affordable housing.

A major survey carried out two years ago found West Devon needed to provide 363 affordable homes a year to meet the present shortfall.

The garage on the two-thirds of an acre site was demolished in the early 1990s. The site was bought by the borough council some years before.

The council had been in discussion with West Devon Homes and representatives from another developer, which was thought to favour social housing with an option for start-up business premises, back in February, but opted for West Devon Homes as the nominated developer.