DEVIZES couple Richard and Sue Jackson want to embark on a labour of love to create a new house that would appear to be hundreds of years old.

They have received resounding backing from Devizes Town Council for a project to build a new house on land near their home at Westview House in the shadow of Devizes Castle.

Mr Jackson, who is one of the owners of an upmarket kitchen firm in Bromham, bought the land with planning permission for a modern bungalow.

But their dream is to build a Georgian style house that looks as if it has been in place since the 18th century and have applied to Wiltshire Council for approval.

Mr Jackson told the town council he would be using reclaimed materials and sourcing as many original materials as possible.

Mr Jackson, 59, and his wife, 63, have lived in Devizes for more than 30 years and have two grown up children. He said: "I want it to look as if it is 200 years old. The existing planning is for a bungalow but we want to build a house that in a few years time will look as if it has always been there and fits in with the other Georgian buildings nearby."

He also told the town council that he hoped the build could be interesting enough to attract attention for a TV show such as Grand Designs or George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.

The couple bought Georgian Westview House four years ago and live in one half of the building and use the other as a holiday let.

Their plan would be to move into the new house and let the second half of Westview.

They expect it to take at least a year to source all of the materials they would need for the build and then another year to construct.

Mr Jackson said: "I would project manage the scheme. I have been thinking about this for a long time and know how I want everything to be. We want it to be as authentic as possible."

In a report to Wiltshire Counicl architects for the Jacksons say: "The design for the proposed house and garage has been carefully conceived to present a traditional dwelling in the late-Georgian style.

"The design would use red brickwork to be as close as possible to the classic Devizes brick used in many of the town’s significant buildings."

The couple have modelled their plan on a Georgian building in the Market Place which is home to David Owen accountants.

Town councillor Andy Johnson said at the meeting: "I commend you for this. It is a fantastic idea and a great design."