RESIDENTS of London Road, Devizes, gave plans for 54 homes at Roundway Mill, the site of the Surecast foundry, a cautious welcome last week.

Surecast, which proposes to build the houses when it has found alternative premises in the Devizes area, had its plans on display at the plant last Wednesday and invited interested parties to a presentation at Devizes Sports Club.

The company has joined forces with developer Landmaze to create the village-style development of 25 flats and 29 houses, about a third of which will be affordable. The foundry buildings will be demolished.

Graham Wilson of Landmaze said he had approached Phillip Pappenheim, Surecast's managing director, about buying the land, but he had suggested they develop the land in partnership.

He said Surecast was not likely to move out within the next two years, but wanted to be in a position to move quickly.

It had produced a development brief to discuss with interested parties, including neighbours.

Architect David Parker said that nothing in the brief was written in stone but was a vehicle for discussion with the community.

He said: "We want to make it visually attractive and welcoming for the people who are going to live there."

A community facility run by a residents' association set up by the developers was envisaged, which could be the venue for a creche, playgroup, meeting room or even a small gym.

Surecast came to Devizes in 1974 after its original factory in Slough was destroyed in a fire.

It moved into Roundway Mill, which is thought to have been built as a flax mill by the Ministry of Supply in the 1930s, and subsequently was taken over by Nitrovit.

The company currently employs 50 people and Mr Pappenheim said he was anxious to stay in the Devizes area.

He said: "It is a lovely town and we are very happy here, but finding alternative premises has proved a bit of a problem. But we are still looking."

The development envisages four two-bedroom cottages, six three-bedroom cottages, eight four-bedroom town houses and three four to five-bedroom town houses in addition to a block of 25 flats.

Nine of the two-bedroom flats, five of the two-bedroom cottages and three of the three-bedroom cottages will be set aside as affordable housing.

The biggest concern expressed by residents was the increase in traffic on to the already congested London Road.

The development is just one of several planned for the area.

Access on to the site will be directly off London Road.