TAVISTOCK is to get 550 new homes over the next decade and the major sites were revealed today (Thursday) in a planning blueprint for the borough.

People are being given a last opportunity to voice their opinions on the suggested areas of development in West Devon in a series of exhibitions around the borough which begin next week.

West Devon's planners have been required by Government to find 4,100 homes and 35 hectares of industrial land in the period 1995-2011. Already, sites have been found for more than 2,000 homes but land is still needed for a further 1,900.

In a two-pronged strategy, council planners are siting the bulk of the new housing land in the borough's towns to put people near jobs, shops and schools.

Okehampton will see the biggest housing expansion with almost 900 homes planned for the area.

Land next to Tavistock's Monksmead estate has been earmarked for 190 homes.

Other sites in Tavistock:

l land adjacent to Bishopsmead — 110 houses

l The Manor, Old Launceston Road — 120 houses

l Brook, Plymouth Road — 100 houses

l east of the Priory — 35 houses

Bere Alston:

l Pentillie Road — 30 houses

l Long Orchard — 30 houses

Lifton:

l between New Road and North Road — 35 houses

l between Woodbine Cottage and Borough House 55 houses

Lewdown:

l west of Reddicliffe House — 25 houses

The borough council has carried out wide ranging participaton exercises over the last two to three years to help formulate its plans for the next ten years.

Extensive public consultation is still required and a number of exhibitions have been organised to galvanise the public into commenting on the contents of the latest Local Plan.

The Government also requires West Devon to provide for 35 hectares of employment land. This amount is already available and no new sites have been specifically allocated in Tavistock. Pitts Cleave is mainly available but is within the National Park.

Some redevelopment proposals in Tavistock include the former gas holder site at Westbridge.

The borough council aims to retain Tavistock market but has contingency plans to deal with effects of closure and reuse of the site.

Land at Bere Alston and along the old A30 corridor has been provided for employment use.

Over the next ten years, the borough council's main aim is to provide the exisiting shopping centre and say out of town developments will be resisted and new retailing encouraged to take place in the centre of Tavistock.

Land at Monksmead is reserved for a railway station and car park and land at Crowndale is to be safeguarded for sport and recreational purposes.

Cllr Nick Morgan, chairman of the council's stragegic development committee, said: 'This plan is the result of three years work by staff and councillors at West Devon.

'This has been a truly open process as during this period the council has staged Planning for Real exercises and exhibitions across the borough where people have been asked how they would like to see their communities developed.'

West Devon's Local Plan goes before the public for six months consultation next Monday and people are urged to go along to the exhibitions and make their views known.

They will be staged on Wednesday, September 13, Lifton Church Hall 2pm to 8pm; Thursday, September 14, Bere Alston Village Hall 2pm to 8pm; Saturday, September 23, Tavistock's pannier market 10am and 4pm.