TWO years ago villagers drank champagne to toast the re-opening of their shop only to watch in dismay as within the year it closed and given permission to become a house.

But optimism in Tydd St Giles – the northernmost parish in Cambridgeshire- is once again high after farmer David Howlett’s proposal for a group of nine new homes, one of which will include a shop.

The shop would be linked to one of the houses on land west of Church Lane, not far from the former village shop.

Agent Peter Humphrey said that although the site is currently farm land and outside the development area, the boundaries used “are not consistent with current planning intentions”.

Mr Humphrey says the “executive style” homes will fulfil a need and by building one home with a linked shop will enable the shop owner/manager to live on site and reduce business costs.

The new village shop and post office is a “much needed local facility following the loss to the village of the former post office and shop” he says.

He has put forward a scheme on Mr Howlett’s behalf that includes a mix of three bedroom “social affordable and four bedroom private market homes.”

Mr Humphrey says each house will include Swift nest boxes and bat boxes to “encourage the continued presence of desirable and fascinating natural species.”

The plans are now being considered by Fenland District Council.

Mr Humphrey added that Mr Howlett had his wife had lived in Tydd all their lives and “come from families historically linked to the village by farming the land.

“Should the proposed application be granted they propose to make a £10,000 donation to parish facilities