A MAN with a lifetime's experience of working in the hotel industry trade is about to realise his dream of converting a former nursing home and caravan site at Sampford Courtenay into a major conference centre with accommodation and sports facilities.

Martin Roberts said winning planning permission from West Devon Borough Council last week to convert Culverhayes was the culmination of two-and-a-half years of hard work.

The house and cottages in the grounds have been completely restored to their Victorian glory by the former Hertfordshire hotelier to the tune of more than £200,000 and he is currently undertaking extensive landscaping.

Since moving to the property in 1999, Mr Roberts has spent a great deal of time talking to local residents about his plans, giving presentations and preparing a feasibility study.

He said generally local people were very supportive of what he wanted to do: 'Although a few do not like change they accept what I am trying to achieve here, which is to create something unique in Devon, provide local employment and facilities for local people.'

The conference centre will include the construction of a 30-bedroomed accommodation block, conference room and facilities, swimming pool, squash courts and fitness suite and 30-space car park.

The leisure and fitness club will be for non-residents with villagers having the first option to join up.

Local people will be sought to fill eleven full-time vacancies and up to 30 part-time vacancies with employment opportunities ranging from chefs to sports training managers.

Culverhayes closed as a nursing home before Mr Roberts and his wife moved into the property when it fell victim to underfunding.

The applicants' wish to give up the caravan site in exchange for the proposed development was felt to be a 'good swap' by planning officers and councillors who were enthusiastic about the proposal.

Mr Roberts said he had moved to the area because he had seen Okehampton's potential several years ago and wanted to be part of the whole area's regeneration.

He said: 'It's a beautiful place and a beautiful town and I thought it had real potential even before I knew about Waitrose and the new hospital.

'What is important more than anything else is that we want to be part of this community and that is why over 60 people from around the area have come here to look around.'

The proposal will include the construction of an L-shaped three-storey residential block, a single-storey building and two-storey conference hall. A proposed helipad was deleted from the application.

Planning officer John Milverton said the proposal was well-designed and the applicants had a good track record in business and provided a sound business plan.

He said: 'The application will have to go to the Government Office South West because it is a departure from the local plan in that a hotel-style development is not designated for this area.

'We feel it is a good swap for the caravan park, but it is up the the Government Office to accept this or call it in for the Secretary of State to decide.'