An application has been submitted to planning authority West Devon Borough Council for planning permission at Alder Vineyard to build a house for a manager on the site.

The vineyard at Lewdown, which recently won Devon Wine of the Year for its still white wine Madeleine Angevine in the Food Drink Devon Awards, has grown steadily over the past five years and is now employing 11 people locally.

Applicants Mr M & Mrs S Hodgetts, who run the vineyard, have been living in a temporary timber chalet for the past three years and are now applying (application number 2812/26/FUL) to build a permanent home, The Lodge, in its place.

The application document submitted to West Devon Borough Council state: “The house is for the site manager’s use and is connected to the winery, café and vineyard management. The design seeks to reflect that corporate connection as well as reflecting some local design characteristics.

“With that in mind, the elevations will be clad in brown cladding to exactly mach the winery and cafe below the site. The windows will be anthracite grey to match likewise. This seeks to maintain the corporate connection between the manager’s house and the winery and will maintain continuity of design across the site.”

The proposed house would be a dormer style cottage dwelling, with two bedrooms and a downstairs office space.

The planning statement continued: “The applicants live and work full time on site and currently manage to do that using a timber chalet. Having developed the business further during this time to the point where it is now an established, award-winning destination, they would like to live in a conventional dwelling better suited to the business model.

“The design relies on a modest chalet style two-bedroom design with an office to serve the business daily administrative needs. This is considered to be a sensible design solution based on the location and the applicant’s requirements.”

The statement added: “The dwelling is located within the site away from public views from the highway, and away from other dwellings in the area. Despite that, the dormer design is influenced by cottages in and around the Lewdown area to reflect that rural design characteristic and make the house sit better in its countryside setting.”

The property will have solar panels on the roof to provide energy.

The application has the backing of Thrushelton Parish Council, which said: “The application is to replace the necessary existing temporary building. the building is required to accommodate a person that is needed on site 24 hours, seven days a week. All services are already in place.”

Comments are invited on the application by November 19, to be submitted via the WDBC planning website: https://westdevon.planning-register.co.uk.