DEVELOPERS are proposing a new 300-homes estate on the site of a proposed prestige business park in Paignton as part of a 'land swap' deal.

The homes are proposed for some of the land earmarked for White Rock business park off Brixham Road.

Together with plans for development at nearby Yannons Farm, this could mean up to 900 new homes for this part of Paignton, about the same size as the Great Parks estate.

Torbay's deputy mayor Chris Lewis (left) says the homes may be needed to 'kick-start' interest in the factories.

Extensive work costing £7million has already been carried out to open up the land for development including new roads, roundabouts and landscaping.

Despite being on the market for more than a year, the developers say there has not been enough interest in the proposed high-quality offices.

Joint partners Abacus Projects and Deeley Freed of Bristol have now approached Torbay Council with the suggestion of allowing 300 to 350 new homes on the two southern fields of the proposed business park, a hotel/public house/restaurant and local shops and facilities, and a landscaped open space, on the land at the Long Road/Brixham Road junction off Waddeton Close as well as offices.

Mr Lewis said: "Torbay is already heavily dependant on service industries. There aren't people queuing up to build factories. It may be the only way to get the factories is to compromise and kick-start it with other forms of development."

The developers say the White Rock housing development would create sufficient income to pay for the opening up for employment development of a new area of green field land adjacent to Torbay Business Park off Woodfield Road.

Councillors have been told the new area is in a bowl and not highly visible, but it is designated as an area of great landscape value and countryside zone, and will have wildlife issues.

Members were asked to consider relaxing the strict controls on land designated for employment, allowing 50 per cent to be developed for other purposes such as housing, but only if the industrial units can be built. This could require compulsory purchase of land.

Members of Torbay Council's new local plan working party were recommended to still include at least 64,000sq m of employment land in the new local development framework at three sites: Yalberton Road/Yannons Farm, White Rock and the former Bookham site on the other side of Long Road which is up for sale.

Officers said traffic issues would have to be considered for the White Rock site, but that most of the land is already earmarked for development. Highways has requested a contribution towards roads improvements and sustainable transport.

Head of planning Les Crump emphasised there had only been pre-application discussions.

"People talk about things happening behind closed doors. We are trying to be open about it, but we need a proper consultation process through the developer with local people and interest groups," he said. "We are sharing it with you now with a view to you discussing it in general terms, then the developer if they wish going forward to formal consultation."

After the meeting, a spokesman for Bristol-based Deeley Freed Estates said the scheme was in the very early stages. He said they would be consulting the public in September before submitting any application.

"We have entered into discussions with the council to see if we can help to provide jobs and houses in the wider West Paignton area," he said. "We are still committed to providing employment space at White Rock but the plans were originally drawn up in the late to mid 1990s, in better economic times. Now we are trying to provide a development combination more targeted to Torbay's current needs."

He said Torbay Business Park had proved successful and there was higher demand for light industrial units than office buildings in that area of Paignton.

"Obviously we recognise that it is a sensitive site and would work with the planners to make sure any wildlife or landscape impact is mitigated," he said.