PLANS for major industrial development in Okehampton which will bring hundreds of new jobs to the town have taken on a new strength with the backing of the South West Regional Development Agency.

The RDA has promised to invest more than £1-million into the 26-acre site at Exeter Road, which is crucial to West Devon Borough Council's plan to create new employment and keep young people in the area.

Borough council members agreed this week that the site, which has been earmarked for industrial development for many years, should become the subject of a compulsory purchase order if negotiations cannot be reached with the landowner.

Chief executive of West Devon Borough Council David Incoll said this week that with the backing of the RDA, the expansion to the Exeter Road Industrial Estate was looking very positive and the town was definitely 'on the up'.

'It is brilliant news for Okehampton — it needs all the investment it can get to help the people who live and work here,' he said.

'In terms of major new sites for employment this is the only one in West Devon and the attraction of it for business is the closeness of the A30 and the possibility of a rural freight terminal adjacent to it.'

Mr Incoll said many firms had expressed an interest in moving to Okehampton and businesses already in the town needed new sites to expand.

'It is vital that Okehampton takes jobs in some of the new industries,' he added. 'We would like to see this land become available for development as soon as possible now the RDA has agreed to put in the lion's share of the money.'

Okehampton Chamber of Trade chairman Ian Bailey said the joy of this development was that people living in the town could also work in it.

'This is going to generate a massive amount to the economy of Okehampton and the surrounding area,' he said. 'It is vital we have a mix of jobs from the factory floor to management

'With 800 new houses planned for the town, Okehampton badly needs more employment.'

Mr Bailey said over the next few years, the changes in Okehampton would be the biggest seen for centuries with new estates popping up, lots more industry and a new hospital to serve the area.

'It is so important that Okehampton is a viable town and not just a satellite town for Exeter which is what is likely to happen if we get all housing and no jobs.

'The economy of this part of Devon relies on the development of that 26 acres at Exeter Road.'

The landowners, Dudley and Francis Luxton, said they were not against selling the site to the council for industrial use in principal as it had had planning permission for more than 10 years for that purpose.