A PROPOSAL to demolish the old Lloyds Bank premises in Yelverton and replace it with a three-storey block of flats and shops is being recommended for refusal by Dartmoor National Park planning committee.

Planning officer Christopher Hart will tell the meeting tomorrow (Friday) that the proposal, lodged by Mr F Phillips, would be detrimental to the character of the area and amenities of neighbouring residents.

The site, which includes the old bank building and an existing take-away food outlet, would be completely redeveloped under the plan. It would provide two new ground floor shops and two additional stories containing four flats and a first floor roof garden.

Mr Hart said the unusual terrace of single-storey shops at Yelverton was created as a result of demolition of the upper floors during the second world war, when a nearby airfield was in use.

He said: 'Although it is acknowledged that the scheme is an attempt to revert to the style of the buildings which originally occupied this site, it is considered that, unless the wholesale redevelopment of the terrace could be achieved, this could lead to a very unbalanced appearance.'

Mr Hart said the introduction of a second floor was 'over-ambitious' and would create a building which would dominate the terrace rather than enhance it.

Any redevelopment of the site would have to be carried out in a manner 'sympathetic' to surrounding properties, said Mr Hart.

Residents have also objected to the scheme, claiming it would be out of character and would lead to an unacceptable loss of light, views and privacy. There was also no provision for additional parking.

And Buckland Monachorum Parish Council supports the views of residents. It feels the proposal would be an 'intrusive' over-development of the site which would 'lead to the loss of its historic associations with the wartime airfield'.