FORMER media tycoon Eddy Shah has been given the go-ahead to build a new hotel and leisure complex in Wootton Bassett.

His company Messenger Leisure Limited bought the Wiltshire Golf and Country Club one year ago.

The company has already invested £100,000 on the golf course itself with further redevelopment likely to cost up to £3.5m.

It now has planning permission after an agreement with Wiltshire County Council to pay for the construction of two bus shelters and lay-bys.

Building work is due to begin at the end of July and Mr Shah hopes the leisure complex will be open to members by the start of next year.

The renovations will mean the addition of a 49-bedroom hotel, a bar, a restaurant, a function room suitable for hosting weddings, a new reception, a crche, a large swimming pool, new changing rooms and a gym area.

Mr Shah, 58, who brought colour technology to the Today newspaper, got into the golf course business seven years ago.

He said: "I love the golf course. It has had a chequered history but I loved the location and the idea for a community club.

"There is nothing like it in the area and we want to build the best club and social venue in the area.

"The club is perched on top of a hill so the views are all going to be great. Members will be able to use the gym and swimming pool and look out at the Wiltshire countryside at the same time.

"It will be very much for local people. We are aiming at the middle market, we want to keep the rates down and not too expensive but pro-vide a top quality club."

Mr Shah thinks the leisure complex will easily attract plenty of customers as the golf club membership has gone up from 360 to 590 in one year.

"It's because we have spent time and money on the course and people can see the results. I bought my top keeper from Essex and we've revolutionised the course," he said.

"The hotel should also attract a mix of all sorts of people. People can come for the weekend and play golf or use it as a base to go and discover the beauty of Wiltshire's countryside."

Mr Shah now runs Messenger Leisure with his wife Jennifer who was brought up in the Winter-bournes, Wiltshire.

The group also owns The Suffolk in East Anglia and used to run The Norfolk and the Essex golf clubs.

Mr Shah is a shareholder and director of Wentworth Golf Club, which hosts the European PGA Championship and the World Match Play Championship.