A FIVE-STAR £30 million hotel is being planned for a large area of farmland on the outskirts of Bolton.

A consortium of wealthy foreign investors led by Bolton businessman Shabbir Khilji have snapped up 70 acres of land between the M61 motorway and Lostock Lane in Horwich.

They have paid £2 million for the plot and have drawn up proposals for a sprawling complex called The Ormston Country Club. It will feature a nine or 18-hole golf course, a health spa, a 150-bedroom luxury hotel, a 1,000-seat banqueting hall and three fine dining restaurants.

Plans also include two helipads and a 24-hour golf driving range.

The development would create up to 270 jobs according to those behind the scheme and could be open by 2011 if the planning process runs smoothly.

Mr Khilji is chairman of Business Proficient, which is running the project.

He is working with two London-based property developers on the hotel and will apply for planning permission from Bolton Council in the next few weeks.

He has also commissioned Chorley Old Road architects Good and Tillotson to draw up the initial plans. An office devoted to the project has been set up in the Business Incubation Centre in Waters Meeting Road.

Mr Khilji says he is passionate about Bolton and is keen to promote the town to the world and contribute to the Bolton economy.

He said: "There isn't this type of hotel anywhere else in the North-west. I want to employ chefs from around the world, so customers can have any type of food they like.

"We are keen to welcome local people in to use our facilities and will give discounts on our gymnasium."

He added: "The country club will create 270 jobs in Bolton and good revenues for Bolton Council. If planning permission is granted, we will start work in November and have it ready for 2011, in time for the 2012 Olympic Games. I want to give all the building work to Bolton companies."

Mr Khilji is a respected local businessman who has lived in Bolton for 15 years, moving to the town to marry his wife Amina who has lived in Bolton since she was a child.

He lives in The Haulgh with his wife and three sons Zaheer, aged 11, Imran, aged 8 and Junaid, aged 2.

He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa of Indian parents and moved back to India in 1975. He then moved back to South Africa in 1986 before coming to the UK in 1994.

When he married his wife he moved to Bolton and began to work in a petrol station. The opportunity arose to take a lease on his own petrol station in Blackpool.

He also sold electronic goods and realised he had a passion for technology. He set up a shop called Faircom in Halliwell Road, Bolton. The firm now has headquarters in St Helens Road, employing 15 people.

Mr Khilji has recently diversified into selling mobile phones and network contracts.

The business has a multi-million pound turnover and 67,000 customers in the UK.

Mr Khilji is passionate about keeping Bolton at the heart of his development and has even named it the Ormston Country Club, after the farming family that has owned the land for several generations, prior to him buying it.

He has formed a company called Business Proficient to deal with the development and has an office in Endeavour House, The Valley. His financial backers include several influential figures in Africa, India and the Middle East.

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: "It's always good to hear of new investment plans for Bolton. When the application comes in we will try and determine a decision within the 13 week period. As with all planning applications, we are required to consult the local community before a decision is taken."