OUTLINE plans for a major redevelopment of Hatherleigh Market have been submitted to West Devon Borough Council.

The proposals are to develop the existing livestock market site for mixed use, to include a new market square for the town, housing, a small supermarket and retail space, employment space, a medical centre and community buildings.

The plans have been prepared by Clifton Emery Design on behalf of site owners Vicks Auctioneers, with assistance from MAZE, PCL Planning, WSP Engineering and Sunflower International Ecology.

The proposal is centred on a new town square, big enough to accommodate 80 stalls at the weekly Tuesday pannier market, with 46 parking spaces solely for market traders. However, the plans reveal that the furniture auction and poultry market are no longer planned to take place.

The square would be very close to the town centre, and designed to accommodate other town events like the carnival. A covered area for market stalls would be located within the widest part of the square.

Designed to be a mixed-use space when the market is not on, the square would be fronted by housing on its western and southern edges, and by a small supermarket and small retail units with accommodation above on the northern side of the site.

The plans suggest 102 new dwellings, each with one or two parking spaces. There would be a range of house types and sizes, including two, three and four bedroom terrace, semi-detached and detached houses. There would also be a number of flats above garages and shops. The actual mix and allocation of houses would be determined at a later stage.

In August 2011 following the first consultation meeting on the plans, residents of Hatherleigh worried about the development formed a public committee called 'Save Hatherleigh'. It has held a number of public meetings to discuss the potential development.

Chairman of 'Save Hatherleigh' Neil Price said: 'These plans are certainly better than the ones previously presented to us, but one of my big concerns is that these houses will be buy to let, and that could create a problem. I don't see many people wanting to live so close to an abattoir.

'There are certainly too many houses; the housing density is far too great. It would also be a great shame to lose the fur and feathers part of the market.

'I have no problem in evolving the market, that is necessary for its survival. Everyone can appreciate that things must change over time.

'My problem is the revolutionary attitude of just tearing the market down. It would be too much change, too fast. If it goes ahead, the transitionary period where the current market is demolished could be disastrous.

'Unlike initially, when people were vocally objecting, I think now people in Hatherleigh still don't want to see this go ahead, but they are resigned to it.'

Neil Emery, director of developer Clifton Emery Design, said: 'More so than any other piece of work we have done, we have closely consulted with local groups and councils on these plans.

'The team made the decision around a year ago to delay a planning application so we could see the result of the Hatherleigh Plan-It, the town community plan. The plan identified various issues in Hatherleigh and aspects people wished could be improved. We went through a process of looking at these concerns and tailoring our plan to answer as many concerns as possible.

'The retention of the Tuesday market has been absolutely critical to these plans. We have held two big exhibitions in Hatherleigh, and had a big response. The issue that people definitely kept coming back to was the need to retain the market.

'We made a decision the plans not only needed to accommodate the market, but at the right scale. We have made the market square a really large space, as close to Bridge Street as possible so we can get it to benefit businesses and the rest of the town.

'The market is a key part of the life of Hatherleigh, and we hope these plans can help preserve its future.'

The proposal is on display in the lobby of the community centre, and the town council has arranged for the centre's opening hours to be longer so people can go in and view the plans. Comments on the plans must be sent to West Devon Borough Council by August 22. Comments can be posted, dropped into the council offices in Okehampton and Tavistock, or via the council website, quoting application number 00760/2013.