AN explanation of how the 185 homes planned for the Wellparks site alongside the A377 at Crediton could look was given to members of Crediton Town Council at last week's meeting.

Tim Baker of Waddeton Park Limited, Exeter, said they were involved in projects in Exeter and Tiverton and were working to get planning permission for the Wellparks site.

With him was George Dundon of LDA Design, Exeter, who specialise in landscape and were one of the designers for the Olympic Park.

Mr Baker said they had been working on the site for about a year, it is "a location sensitive to the town" and the Downes Estate was "keen to make sure it was an attractive and sustainable development."

Mr Dundon explained that the lower part of the field would be residential with the corner nearest to Wellparks being for employment use while the larger, upper part of the field would remain agricultural, managed by the Downes Estate.

A number of studies had been done, including ecology, archaeology, transport and drainage, plus checking visibility of the site.

He said the gradient of between one in six and one in 10 gave for a creative design.

He added that the link road was "quite sensible" so far as this site was concerned and there would need to be a good connection with town.

There would be a mix of architecture with a "green lane' going through the site, above which would be homes, giving the idea of bartons and farmsteads, a mix of architecture, with smaller houses below.

Mr Baker added that there would be a pre-planning exhibition "fairly soon" in Crediton plus another in Tiverton, as requested by Mid Devon District Council, the planning authority.

There would be a pedestrian and cycle link to the town along an old track at the back of Exeter Road plus pedestrian exits onto the pavement along the A377 allowing people to walk up Exeter Road or cross to get to the railway station.