EXBOURNE'S innovative proposals for a new village post office and shop have been submitted to West Devon Borough Council.
Excitement is brewing in the village over the plans to create an underground building which could be used for a host of village activities.
Local architect Steve Blakeman says he was simply working with the site on offer, a field opposite the Red Lion Inn, and his best idea was to dig a hole, build the shop in the hole and replace the field.
'It is quite an interesting little scheme but it all hinges on getting outline planning permission,' he said.
'The design is all about the site really — it seems to fit comfortably within its setting and it has elements which relate to the local area.'
Sally Hordern, of the Exbourne Community Shop Project, said the building would give the village so much scope because not only would it provide a post office, shop and cafe, in the evening the tables could be folded away and table tennis put up for the kids.
'Hopefully, we can make room for a computer so we can have some IT training as well,' she said.
'We can have all the things a village needs and which we are currently lacking.'
When the village post office and stores was closed and put up for sale last year, a public meeting was called to see if the townspeople wanted to keep a facility in the village.
The overwhelming answer was yes, and since then, with help from Okehampton Post Office, the community group has managed to open a temporary post office, shop and coffee shop in the village hall and taken plans forward for permanent premises.
Mrs Hordern said the proposed building, which would be adjacent to the high street, was innovative enough really to appeal to potential funding bodies.
'It's certainly getting people talking and there is a lot of interest,' she said.
'Residents are pleased with what we have done so far with the village hall and especially the coffee shop which has become a very important part of the village.'