Atkins Auctions of Axminster is planning to move to a new premises in the town after outgrowing its current Lyme Road site.

The auction house has applied for planning permission to change the use of an industrial unit at Gamberlake, part of the wider Axminster Carpets factory site.

The application says that Atkins' current town centre property is "too small for their ongoing operations and is no longer considered to be fit for purpose".

The relocation to Gamberlake would provide continued employment for six full-time staff and would not result in any job losses.

No external alternations to the existing industrial unit would be required, and the auction house would be open to the public one Friday a month, the rest of the time being used as a storage area for items for forthcoming auctions.

Car parking will be available on the existing forecourt area, to be accessed from Gamberlake, and in the event that further car parking provision is necessary, there is ample provision within the wider carpet factory site.

The application for change of use was submitted to East Devon District Council in August but no decision has yet been made. If approved, it will leave another prominent town centre property empty.

You can view the full application on the East Devon District Council planning website.