THE MAN behind the drive for the new Okehampton Hospital says people are being side-tracked by a housing dispute when they should be rejoicing in a wonderful new facility for the area.

Some people claim they have been surprised by plans for a housing development around the hospital site which they fear will not allow for its adequate expansion in the future.

But Okehampton GP Paul Neilson, who has been instrumental in getting the new healthcare facility, said the size of the £4-million hospital was based on the population growth to 2011 and there was room to provide two new areas on the 3.5-acre site later on if necessary.

The whole area in question consists of just over seven acres which have been earmarked in the District Local Plan for a mix of commercial and residential development.

The plans by Barratt Homes for 48 houses and 24 flats, which have been submitted to West Devon Borough Council this week, were revealed at a presentation on the new hospital recently.

In an unusual step, Barratts have appointed outside architect Nigel Grainge, who has designed the hospital, to come up with a housing scheme that is sympathetic and in keeping with the new facility.

Opponents to the housing scheme, who are demanding a public meeting, have called for the number of houses to be dramatically reduced so they are not 'jammed' up against the hospital.

Dr Neilson said the NHS was not in a position to purchase more land than that required for capital projects.

He said: 'There is room to expand on that site if we need to — everything has been worked out in line with the district local plan and the expected population growth over the next ten years.

'As far as the housing development goes it is out of my remit — the NHS cannot influence the developers' plans.'

The doctor said the concern over car parking space was unjustified because there would be 72 spaces available — 32 more than the Castle Hospital car park.

'I think what people are failing to do is listen — I have been to 42 public meetings to talk about the hospital plans but what I am saying does not seem to be sinking in,' he said.

Dr Neilson, who has spent the last seven years campaigning for a new Okehampton hospital, said he was very upset people were not celebrating the fact that building work was just about to start.

'Everyone should be rejoicing in this — I am really unhappy that the whole thing has become side-tracked by a housing dispute that has nothing to do with the NHS,' he said.

Dr Nielson said Okehampton was a wonderful community that was phenomenally generous — £150,000 had already been raised locally for the Okehampton Hospital Appeal.

'I believe the majority of people are completely behind what we are trying to do — it just seems there are an odd few who want to be negative.'

But one of the concerned residents, Brian Crittenden from Northlew, said it was so important to get everything right in the planning stage.

He said: 'What I am concerned about is the future — I do not want to hear in a few years' time that Okehampton needs another new hospital because there is no room to expand on its current site.

'More thought should have been given to the rest of the seven acres in terms of what is put there and how much space it utilises. These homes will be jammed up against the hospital and where are all the cars going to go?'

Paul Richards said he did not believe the long-term view was being taken: 'Such a lot of money is being put into this hospital and a lot of us have spent time fundraising to ensure that this facility is the best it can possibly be for the people of the area,' he said.

'The last thing we want to do is to be caught napping and find these plans are pushed through without anyone being aware of what is going on.'

Managing director of Barratt Homes Kelvin Tutill said the company had gone to great lengths to put forward a design that was in keeping with the hospital.

'We do not usually employ outside architects but in this case we felt it was very important to have a sympathetic design and that is why we asked the hospital architect Nigel Grainge to work on it.

The houses, many of which are two-bedroomed starter homes, all have south facing gardens to make maximum use of light and many include pergolas to reflect the design of the hospital.

Mr Tuthill said the density of the housing was in line with Government guidelines.

The Barratt Homes application will go before West Devon Borough Council's planning committee in August.