AS SOON as Bronwen Hewitt walked into the grounds of historic Seale-Hayne, she could see its potential.

Standing inside the striking quadrangle, her creative brain kicked into gear: this was the right place for the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust.

That was 18 months ago. In a short space of time the charity has set about utilising the former classrooms, teaching blocks and land in a bid to create a place where disabled children and adults can work, rest and play together with their able-bodied families, friends and people from the wider community.

On Monday, September 5, Teignbridge Council's planning committee will discuss the trust's outline proposal to turn a former accommodation block into respite care facilities and family accommodation and create level-access walkways through the site.

The plan also looks at providing therapy suites, leisure and business space, function rooms, entertainment areas, a hotel, and health and sport facilities.

The trust's chief executive Mrs Hewitt (pictured) described the plans as 'exciting' saying: "Seale-Hayne is going to be a very special place."

The trust, which has been in existence for more than 200 years, acquired Seale-Hayne in December, 2009.

The planning proposal — which has been recommended for approval — is part of its ambitious 50-year 'master-plan' .

Mrs Hewitt said: "The main priorities at the moment is to turn an existing building into respite centre and family accommodation unit and put level access in across the site.

"We know that the next three to five years are going to be hard work but we are ready for it.

"Our plans are fantastic and scary at the same time. It was a big leap of faith to get this far but we have done as much as we can."

The site already houses an arts centre and gallery, a café, a vintage shop and business innovation units which are open to the public.

The trust recently secured £410,000 grant funding from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund for a hydrotherapy pool, currently being built, and a cake shop is set to open in coming weeks.

The trust employs 55 staff but that could swell to 75 to include therapists, support workers, hospitality workers and grounds staff.

Mrs Hewitt said: "It is a good news story in terms of regeneration and the local economy.

"We are doing this in a real way — it is not some false dream."

Aspects of the plan will be implemented in phases when Hannahs secures funding, she said, and the listed buildings onsite, including the quadrangle, will be preserved.

An outline plan for homes elsewhere on the site, made by the trust to fund future projects and enable regeneration, will be put to planners at a later date.