PLANS for a new 12-acre business park in Okehampton have been revealed by Devon County Council. The Okehampton East Business Park, which would be located to the east of the town, aims to create a range of commercial premises to create around 150 jobs. The premises would have a variety of possible uses to accommodate a range of businesses. The plans were unveiled at an exhibition in Okehampton Business Centre last week. The land is on a site adjacent to the Okehampton Business Centre and the park is being designed with an aspiration to facilitate a suitable space for the creation of high quality business premises. Devon County Councillor for Okehampton Rural Cllr Kevin Ball was excited by the plans. He said: 'This site would allow for local businesses to expand and help to attract new businesses from further afield to Okehampton. Much of the infrastructure is in place. 'All over the country councils put together these sort of plans and build the parks but then the buildings and plots stand empty. That is because often there is no trigger for them. If local businesses relocate here, that would be the trigger and it would become a magnet for businesses across Devon and further afield. This would help to create new jobs for the town.' If given the go-ahead, it is planned that the site will be developed in phases. In the first phase, a parcel of land north of Okehampton Business Centre, and two parcels of land on the main park site, adjacent to the Higher Stockley Mead road, would be developed first, with road access points. Once these are developed and businesses have agreed to use the site, two further parcels of land would de developed, before the final section of land is developed. The site has geographical complications to overcome, with a sloping topography meaning the project has to be developed in stages to ensure the financial viability of the business park. Estate surveyor Diane Rider is from the NPS Group, who are developing the plans in conjunction with the county council. She was hopeful that there would be plenty of businesses prepared to relocate to the new business park. She said: 'Lots of local businesses have expressed their interest in the site and potentially relocating here, as have some from across Devon. It is very early days yet, but that shows the potential of a site like this. These are very encouraging signs. 'The market is definitely picking up. We have had more enquiries about this site and sites of its type in the last six months than we had had in the previous two years. There is great interest in land across the county, including this site. 'The steep sloping of the site means it is not ideal topography but it is attractive in the sense of it being so close to the A30, close to Okehampton and of a suitable size.' A portion of land to the north of the proposed park has deliberately been left free of development so that should a permanent train service return to Okehampton, the land can be used for a parkway rail station. Cllr Ball feels that the return of the railway would benefit the new business park. 'The railway would certainly help this scheme. Looking ahead, the land has been left clear as an appropriate site for a parkway station should the railway return. It can certainly be used as an additional argument for the return of the railway and every argument we have can only be a good thing. 'It is historical fact that when a rail link is re-established or created, economic regeneration happens. It would mean a great deal to the town.' The development site has an extensive planning history. Outline planning permission was granted for the land to be used for commercial uses in 2006, though that permission has now lapsed. The site was allocated for employment uses in the Local Plan and the county council is to submit a hybrid planning application detailing the road and site levels, with an outline for the use to include office, distribution and industrial. The park is seen as a key component in the residential expansion of the east of Okehampton, offering new jobs and business opportunities. Over the next few weeks, the county council is to finalise and submit the planning application to West Devon Borough Council. If permission is given, the site will be marketed to attract businesses to use it and there will be the tender for construction works. By spring 2015, it is hoped the estate road and plot preparation work will be complete.