PROPOSALS for a major new housing development on the edge of Tavistock came under the spotlight at an exhibition in the town last week.

Housing developer Trand hopes to build 110 houses on a greenfield site at Butcher's Park, on the north east edge of the town. Tavistock-based Trand wanted to hear the views of the public during the exhibition in the Bedford Hotel, before the company submitted a formal plan to West Devon Borough Council.

The 5.67-hectare site, north of the Butcher's Park allotments, was previously granted planning permission by a planning inspector in 2010 for construction of 52 timber-clad caravans.

Architect Lucy Jenkin, of Mitchell Architects in Plymouth, said roughly 50% of the properties would be earmarked for affordable housing.

Trand has worked on similar projects to develop affordable housing for rural communities at Looe, Briar Tor in Yelverton and Liskeard.

She told the Times: 'The site will benefit from new allotments and large areas of open public space. These integrate landscaping with generous numbers of indigenous trees.

'The proposed homes will all be constructed to level three of the Code for Sustainable Homes, ensuring excellent build quality and high levels of insulation. These features will minimise occupant fuel costs, whilst maximising carbon reductions.'

The scheme has also been designed to have minimal visual impact on the landscape. However, of those asked for their opinions by the Times at the exhibition, all remained unconvinced that Butcher Park was a suitable site for a housing development of this scale.

Michael Deane, a chartered water and environment manager who lives in Whitchurch Road, said if the development went ahead, it would be 'a blot on the landscape'.

He said: 'The main objection is that the housing is not necessary and excess to the requirements laid down in the Local Plan. Also the scheme is outside the boundary of the approved development plan.

'It will be a blot on the landscape. I didn't like the previous planned proposal for the site but at least it had proper landscaping and single storey buildings.'

Mr Deane, is a member of the Butcher Park Allotment Association, whose allotment is on the curtilage of the site. He was worried about the drainage of the land and its effects, not just on the allotment but as a potential threat to the structure of the main road.

Joan Catnach from The Dell objected strongly to the proposals, especially regarding the increased number of people and traffic using a narrow entrance and exit to the proposed estate.

She said: 'It would be a nightmare trying to get out on to the road and they won't put in any footpaths. It would be far too dangerous for the children to walk along the road to get to school.

'Tavistock does not need this. If they need to build more houses, there are other more suitable places, but not there.

'Tavistock is being spoilt and I very much doubt if the people from Tavistock in need of housing are going to live there — it will be those from outside the area.'

Another visitor to the exhibition, Alex Mettler from Tavistock, opposed the development.

He said: 'This is clearly outside the development area. They are proposing 110 houses in place of 50 caravans.

'It's nonsense, I think it's a joke. Of course we need to build new housing but we don't need ridiculous housing schemes like this.'

However Mark Scoot, the planning consultant for Trand, welcomed the opinions of the public and insisted their views would be taken into consideration before plans were finalised for submission to the planning authority.

Mr Scoot said: 'I want to hear what people think. It is important that any concerns they have are answered and that's why our engineer is here today to address these issues.

'When it comes to concerns over flooding, drainage, highways and access to the site, we have to tick all the boxes for the local authority and relevant agencies. If we don't we cannot get consent.'

Mr Scoot said the developers would look at contributing funding towards the cost of a mini roundabout, a community centre and educational provision. He added: 'There is a chronic need for affordable housing in Tavistock and I hope this development would go some way to help satisfy this demand.'

He told the Times that once the plans were finalised, and if approved by West Devon Borough Council, the development could be ready between 18 months to two years.