A developer has revealed proposals for a new housing scheme on Ottery’s allotments.

Provisional drawings being used by Redrow, who are in the process of building 130 homes in the north of the town, show an extension of their Butts Road development on to the allotment field with an additional 33 houses.

The developer owns the allotment land and leases it back to the town, and, in December, civic leaders met with the Redrow to discuss a renewal of the lease which expires at the end of 2014.

But during the talks, Redrow expressed an interest in building on the land, and last week, representatives from the developer met with the mayor and members of the allotment committee to discuss early plans for replacement plots on land adjacent to the current field.

“We looked at the plan and suggested some things that we’d like changed,” said Carl Richmond, allotment committee chairman. “But it is at an early stage at the moment.

“We just hope that if they do build there, there will be an agreement for new allotments.”

He added that the developer had invited them to visit Budleigh Salterton in the coming weeks to see first-hand an example of new allotments that have been provided as part of a housing development.

Although no formal application has been made, Lee Hawker, land director for Redrow South West, has previously said that any proposal from the developer would come with the condition that the same number of plots be provided elsewhere.

He also said that they would be willing to gift the new field to the town - which could safeguard the site for the future.

Any application submitted by the developer would have to be considered by Ottery Town Council before a decision is made by East Devon District Council.