Okehampton’s former NatWest bank could be reopening later this year as a virtual reality gaming centre.

It was forced to close its doors to the public two years ago, but there are fresh hopes for its future if West Devon Borough Council approves the plans by a young local entrepreneur.

Ryan Arthurs, 25, hopes his venture will breathe life back into the historic building and draw more people into Okehampton whilst giving local teenagers, adults and families something different to do in the town.

He hopes to transform the downstairs of the building by taking out stud walls and making it open plan, but the exterior and internal walls will remain unchanged.

"I am renting part of the building for the business,’ he said. "There is not a huge amount of work to do downstairs. If we can secure planning permission we could be ready to go as soon as next month.

"I have lived in Okehampton my whole life and I am looking for something new and different to do in the town.

"The town centre has not changed much in my lifetime so I came up with this idea.

"Gaming is a really popular hobby but it’s not exclusive to teenagers — adults play too and this is a venue which will appeal to all ages and genders and families too."

Ryan has taught computing and coding in schools and worked on Lego robots building projects but he is also a teacher of sports in primary school.

He has worked with OCRA and Plymouth Argyle and is currently teaching PE sessions at St James Primary School in Okehampton.

"I enjoy gaming myself and I guess it’s something I have thought about for a couple of years," he said. "Work stopped for me a bit during Covid so I had time to think about what I wanted to do next."

Ryan said he plans to have a range of virtual games like escape rooms, boxing and shooting games and an arcade with some of the more traditional games like Pac-Man.

He said the space downstairs in the former bank building was sizeable and he was now looking at what to put in from the ‘massive’ range of games available.

"I think some people get the wrong impression that gaming is very insular but it is very social when you play with your friends," he explained. "You can also make friends from it.

"It also teaches you skills like problem solving and reaction skills. It can be a very good educational resource and I certainly aim to try and get school groups to come along."

Ryan said that gaming was also a way of engaging some young people who did not respond to the textbook way of learning.

He said he was not daunted by a venture like this: "I’m 25 and if I can’t take a risk now when I’m young and have no responsibilities, when can I?"

Planning consent would not involve any changes to the exterior of the building, Ryan said.

"This is such a beautiful old building but it’s not been used in two years. It is such a shame that a beautiful old building like this in the centre of town is lying empty.

"If I can make it useful again that would be great."

It is expected the remainder of the old bank building will be the subject of a planning application to convert it into residential units in the future, as has been done next door at the rear of the Plume Feathers pub.

More on the plans for the virtual reality centre can be seen at http://apps.westdevon.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC/Home/Details/211967