The owner of the former sorting office in Budleigh Salterton has provided an update to when his new antique centre will be up and running.

Planning permission was submitted in June last year to re-develop the site which used to be the Post Office sorting office before it closed in 2017 and has been left disused since.

Read more: Budleigh Salterton old sorting office could be re-developed

Above will be a two-storey apartment with dormer windows to match those seen throughout the high-street. This one-bedroom apartment will allow the shop manager to keep an eye on the site, improving security.

To fund the project, the remaining building would be converted into one, two-storey two-bed home and a three-storey three-bed home.

Owner James Upham hopes to open Upham Antiques, as soon as possible. Initial planning was granted by East Devon District Council, but Mr Upham is waiting on the second and third application stage to be approved before work can begin.

In a post on December 20. James Upham said: "I am reaching out I’m James from Upham Antiques, located at the old post office. I would like to provide clarification regarding our current planning permissions. While we have successfully obtained initial planning permission, we are eagerly awaiting the secondary and completion planning permissions. We are deeply appreciative of the tremendous support we have received from the Budleigh Salterton community.

"We are eager to open at the earliest opportunity, pending final approval from the district council.

"Thank you for your continued support."

The former sorting office was once owned by Royal Mail who moved distribution to Exmouth.

An application was submitted in January 2018 to convert the sorting office into a pub but that was rejected. 

Royal Mail, which used to own the building, moved its Budleigh operations to Exmouth.