A set of eight apartments could be built in West Hill above McColl’s if proposals are given the green light.

Planning permission is being sought for the demolition of the existing single-storey buildings on the site, while retaining the village’s shop, the estate agents. A cafe is also planned for the ground floor.

The planning application for Potters Country Market, in West Hill Road, seeks to take over the remainder of the two-storey building, including the whole vacant first floor.

It proposes to build two floors of apartments over the existing commercial units, with four apartments to a floor.

The plans outline most of the apartments will have outdoor space, such as a balconies or a terrace, and two of the set will have a Juliet balcony.

Access to the dwellings will be through communal stairs at the rear of the building, once current outbuildings have been demolished.

The application states: “The predominant type of dwelling in West Hill is large, detached houses, therefore the provision of quality apartments will diversify the housing mix.”

There will also be dedicated car parking at the rear of the building - allocating one space per apartment. Also included in the plans is a further area of unallocated parking to the rear of the building, away from the commercial property’s parking and servicing zones.

There will also be a bin and bicycle storage.

The applicant recognised that the McColl’s shop was recognised as the ‘village hub’ and said it was working with the business.

The applicant said: “There will be full co-ordination with McColl’s and the estate agents to ensure they remain open, trading and sustainable throughout the construction and beyond, which includes assisting McColl’s in bringing forward the consented cafe.”

An Environmental Health representative has commented on the proposal, recommending a number of conditions should be attached if permission was granted.

The conditions factor in protecting the amenities of existing and future residents by limiting the hours of construction work, noise, air, water and light pollutions and the provision of internal sound insulation such as party walls, floors and ceilings to protect adjoining occupiers from excessive noise.

The Environmental Health representative said: “There shall be no burning on site. There shall be no high frequency audible reversing alarms used on the site, and no deliveries to and from the site outside the above hours of working.”

East Devon District Council will decide on the application.