ANOTHER Brixham holiday park could close after its owners announced they plan to develop the site for housing.

Park Holidays UK, the owner of Riviera Bay, wants to turn the holiday village on Mudstone Lane into a mixed residential and employment development which could include a care home and 110 houses.

It is understood 60 jobs could be created at the site.

The firm announced yesterday it plans to start a consultation process with a view to submitting a planning application in October.

It comes after a planning meeting to discuss plans for the Wall Park site was postponed after developers said they were revising proposals.

Matt Purdom, from Park Holidays UK, said the firm wanted to consult with the community about its proposals.

"Riviera Bay has a very special location and having had ongoing discussions with Torbay Council, both parties have concluded it is a site more suited to non-tourism redevelopment," he said.

"We are looking at proposals to bring forward an alternative use for this site which will improve environmental impact, provide housing, address ongoing concerns raised by the local community and sustain employment opportunities for Brixham."

Park Holidays UK owns both Riviera Bay and the nearby Landscove Holiday Parks in Brixham.

Planning permission was recently granted for Landscove Holiday Park to be expanded and upgraded to provide a more attractive tourist destination.

Mr Purdom said Landscove would benefit from a multimillion-pound investment over several years and would become the "premier holiday park destination in Brixham".

He said: "The redevelopment of Riviera Bay will also enable us to put in place improvements to the coastal path and local landscape.

"The Landscove redevelopment will create new tourism jobs, replacing and adding to those displaced from Riviera while the redevelopment of Riviera will bring new employment opportunities to the local area."

The proposals will pull the building line back from the cliff edge, open up the site with six acres of new open space, improve the visibility and reinstate the coastal path.

Councillors in the port said they would wait for more advanced plans before commenting. Andrew Baldrey, the recently elected Lib Dem councillor for St Marys with Summercombe ward, said: "I've heard about the plans but I need more information before I can comment."

Mike Morey, the independent councillor for Berry Head with Furzeham, said: "I don't want to make any comment regarding these plans but in general terms there is a fear in Brixham that tourism facilities in the town are slowly being eroded."

Town council clerk Ki Barnes said the developers had agreed to meet with the town council, the Torbay councillors representing Brixham as well as the community partnership to discuss the project.

She said: "At the moment it is only an outline proposal. There is nothing concrete and we need to know more.

"We need to retain some of our holiday parks. It is a wonderful holiday location which is ideal for tourism."

The Wall Park development was due to be discussed at a special planning meeting on September 27 but it is now hoped for the proposals to be heard at a development control committee on November 1.

Developers Northern Trust originally proposed 231 homes, 14 holiday chalets, a care home, two bat barns and use of land for caravanning and camping on the Wall Park site.

A spokesman for said: "Through consultation with the key stakeholders, Northern Trust has been able to make minor amendments to the masterplan which will provide greater benefit and enhancement to the landscape and ecology of the Berry Head peninsula, a newsletter will be issued to the residents of Brixham updating them on the changes to the scheme."

A Torbay Council spokesman said consideration of the application was still pending, adding: "The officer report relating to this application has not yet been prepared. The earliest date the application could be considered is October 4, but is dependent on the receipt of information on various matters which are still outstanding."

Mr Morey said: "It does appear the developers are taking on board the comments of Brixham's residents, but we will have to wait and see what comes forward in the new application."

Proposals are being drawn up for the Riviera Bay site and will be subject to public consultation in the autumn in advance of a planning application being submitted.

Anyone interested in the plans can e-mail rivierabayconsultation @gmail.com.