Plans have been submitted to tear down a town centre building in Axminster and create a new convenience store with nine apartments.

If approved, the plans would see the former Lawsons Hardware Store building, now occupied as a gym, demolished and two adjoining car parks – off South Street and Lyme Street – redeveloped.

The Lyme Street car park is saw on the site of the former Websters Garage, which has been earmarked for redevelopment since a fire saw it demolished in 2008.

The new development would see the convenience store, providing 20 full time jobs, and a mixture of two-and three-bedroom apartments with private balconies, built over four floors on the site of the existing building and South Street car park.

The flat roof fourth floor would be recessed from the floor below, designed to appear as the building's roof when viewed from the street.

A private parking area for the shop would be accessed from Lyme Street and there would be a 36-bay public car park behind this. A separate small parking area for the nine new homes would be accessible from South Street. 

The application, submitted by Hallmark Estates (Devon) Ltd, adds: "The application presents a rare and exciting opportunity to redevelop previously developed land in a manner that would enhance the the character and appearance of the conservation area and provide high quality living conditions for future occupiers within a sustainable location, whilst revitalising the vitality of this part of Axminster town centre."

You can view the full plans at https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/ by searching application number 22/2322/OUT