A SCHEME to provide desperately needed affordable homes in Tavistock this week came under fire from nearby residents who claim it is out of keeping in a conservation area.

But developers West Devon Homes have defended the scheme as being in a positive area for low cost housing.

West Devon Homes wants a three and four storey block of flats containing 22 dwellings to be built on the old Abbey Garage site.

It is the second such scheme put forward by the housing company. The previous one was rejected by planners on design grounds.

Janice Anderson, who is renovating the listed cottage at 1 Dolvin Road, next door to the proposed development, said: ?I really don?t think a lot of people are aware it?s a four-storey block of flats, right on the edge of Bedford Square.

?It?s not in keeping with the original brief for the site, nor for the centre of Tavistock.?

Mrs Anderson also considered there should be more public consultation over the project.

She said: ?There was a lot of publicity for the redesigning of Bedford Square, but there seems to be none about this very important part of Tavistock ? they seem to be trying to creep this through very quickly and quietly.?

She claimed plans for the scheme were inaccurate, as they showed half of her house as being derelict.

Mrs Anderson said she felt the flats were being built in the wrong position, with no facilities for children, right on the edge of a busy road and roundabout.

?Tavistock is a lovely town, which is why we want to live here, but I can?t understand why they are allowing this.?

A resident in the area, who did not wish to be named, said he felt the development was ?too high? and over-dominant in relation to the existing cottages.

He said: ?I would like to think the people of Tavistock could see what?s being proposed ? this is going to be there for a lifetime.?

Jonathan Coote, who lives above the site in Deer Park Close, said the plan ?didn?t seem right? for what was the main entrance into the town.

?I question building tenement blocks these days, when you see people pulling them down because they have realised they are not ideal places for young families to grow up in.

?I do feel you have to make adequate provision for the people who are going to live there.?

But Frank and June Birch, who live next door to Mr Coote, said they were ?quite pleased? with the new plans.

Mr Birch said: ?It?s a lot better than it was, we?re pleased with the design and the way they?ve addressed our concerns. We really need housing for young people ? there?s nothing for them here.?

The couple said the site was an ?eyesore? and the sooner the new building was up, the better.?

Stuart Davies, chief executive of West Devon Homes, said the company consulted extensively with planners and with the government-appointed body CABE, which is concerned with architectural design.

Mr Davies said: ?I think we have a far better design now than the previous application.

?Part of the withdrawal of the previous application and submission of this one was to take account of some of the concerns of local residents.?

Mr Davies said Mrs Anderson had not contacted West Devon Homes since the new application was submitted but said he would be pleased to speak to her about the development.

He said the new plans set the building further away from her property and only obscure bathroom windows would be included on the side elevations.

He said it would be up to the planning committee to balance their interpretation of the planning brief against residents? concerns.

Mr Davies said the development would ?stand in its own right? as a 21st century building and help plug the gap in provision of affordable housing in the area.

?There are an awful lot of people in Tavistock who fall into this category. Personally, I think it?s an extremely positive area for affordable housing.

?One of the comments from CABE was what a pleasant surprise it was to see such a prominent site being used for affordable housing.?

The application will be considered by West Devon Council?s planning committee in December. The public have until November 11 to comment on the scheme.