A DEVELOPER which wants to build factories on a greenfield site on the northern edge of Devizes will be arguing its case at the Kennet Local Plan inquiry next month.

Berkeley Strategic Land Ltd says the site, on former Ministry of Defence land next to the former police skid pan in Horton Road, is an ideal site for new businesses.

The company has objected to the replacement Kennet Local Plan and is calling for the site to be included for employment purposes.

Kennet District Council says the site should be left untouched and is opposing Berkeley's proposal.

The public inquiry which is hearing objections to the Kennet Local Plan was due to hear from officials from Berkeley yesterday, but because Kennet District Council had not had sufficient time to consider evidence which Berkeley submitted a few days ago, the hearing was adjourned until June 25.

In a statement submitted to the public inquiry, Dan Hallett, of Berkeley, said more land needed to be allocated for offices and factories in Devizes.

He said that the rapid expansion of Hopton Park, on the other side of London Road, indicated that Devizes was enjoying economic growth and needed to develop more sites for businesses.

He said in his statement: "The consequence of the development (at Hopton Park) is that the built urban edge of Devizes has changed, with employment development extending north eastwards from the town and also along London Road."

Kennet District Council argues in its statement to the inquiry that there is sufficient land for businesses to build on up until 2011.

Berkeley is promoting small scale development on the Horton Road site but the council argues that the size of the site, at 7.3 hectares, cannot be considered as small scale.

The council is also against any development at the site because it believes it would lead to increased traffic on London Road.

It also says that building on the site would spoil the rural setting of that part of Devizes.