Plans to turn former bar into 24/7 gym

by Lisa Reeves

Thursday 21^st January 2016

Thu 21^st Jan 2016

Plans have been submitted to create a 24 hour gym in Wilmslow town centre.

Blackpool based North West Leisure Ltd intends to fit-out both the ground and first floor of 52 Parsonage Green to create an Anytime Fitness Club.

The premises were most recently occupied by a sports bar but have been vacant since the building was repossessed on behalf of the landlord in May 2014. Prior to that the building was occupied by La Tasca restaurant.

The proposal is to change the use from Class A4 (Drinking establishments) to Class D2 (Assembly and Leisure) to provide a new health and fitness club with associated changing facilities and equipment.

The scheme, which includes the creation of three parking spaces and a new entrance, is taking place within the confines of the existing building - there are no alterations or extensions to the existing footprint of the building.

Open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, it is anticipated that the new gym would provide employment for 5 full time members of staff and 5 part time staff.

Anytime Fitness was founded in 2002 and now has over 2,300 clubs open worldwide. Currently there are approximately 53 Anytime Fitness franchises operating within the UK, the closest of which is in Knutsford.

The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 15/5697M. The last date for submitting comments is 29th January and a decision is expected by 12th February.

Would you like to see a 24/7 gymnasium open in the town centre? Share your views via the comment box below.

Tags:: Anytime Fitness, Planning Applications

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Rick Andrews

Thursday 21^st January 2016 at 10:14 am

Would be good to see the property in use again, but only 3 parking spaces, where the bar had tables - will become even more difficult to park outside the adjacent shops and Post Office.

Ryan Dance

Thursday 21^st January 2016 at 12:38 pm

Rick - try using the pay and display opposite.

Great addition to Wilmslow. Good luck

Pete Taylor

Thursday 21^st January 2016 at 4:29 pm

An excellent proposal to utilise this central location, which has been vacant far too long. Hopefully the three parking spaces immediately outside the door will be reserved for disabled clients. Hopefully they will also provide cycle racks.

Dave Cash

Friday 22^nd January 2016 at 2:32 am

A more useful franchise operation in Town Centre than another bar, restaurant, coffee shop.
Disabled parking bays are avail at Green La, close to Tescp/PO. Pete, but cannot see that 5 new staff can operate 2 floors 24/7. Does it need to operate all day every day to be profitable?
TBH I would have preferred a Pound Land or similar.

DELETED ACCOUNT

Friday 22^nd January 2016 at 9:44 am

There is a gym like this in Altrincham and it was one of the few places there which has people in it, so I am optimistic that it will be used by the many office workers in Wilmslow. As to anyone who needs to get there by car - that is a problem. The carparks opposite are full by 10 a.m because they are used for parking for the railway station. I know this because I have had to shift to an earlier time to go to the leisure centre because otherwise there would be nowhere to park.

Patricia Foster

Friday 22^nd January 2016 at 3:55 pm

I work in Wilmslow, my shift starts at 9.30. By 9.30 there is no space to park in the town centre, even if you have already prepaid for a space on the Broadway car park!

Josie James

Friday 22^nd January 2016 at 5:27 pm

Great idea for something different in Wilmslow but as all the previous comments state parking is a real issue here. Wilmslow is already full to bursting with commuters parking here, there and everywhere. Good luck though

Oliver Romain

Friday 22^nd January 2016 at 10:12 pm

Good news. A lot of people will be able and willing to walk or run there from their homes and workplaces. So parking may not be such an issue. I wish them well.

Caroline Thompson

Saturday 23^rd January 2016 at 6:53 am

there isn't enough parking space to accomadte this?

Why does Wilmslow need another gym?

Would prefer a baby/toddler play zone that has different art/craft/ cooking events (like messy play or kiddi cook)

Stuart Redgard

Saturday 23^rd January 2016 at 11:36 pm

A 24/7 gym?

I'd like to see this property re-open as a going concern but personally I don't think this will work. But I could be wrong, so let's just wait and see. I wish them every success.

Rufus Bradshaw

Monday 25^th January 2016 at 10:33 am

I all for anything that involves heath and fitness but we need more parking!! The carparks are usually full at off peak hours never mind peak time.

Joanna Davies

Monday 25^th January 2016 at 2:10 pm

Fabulous addition to Wilmslow

Simon Worthington

Tuesday 26^th January 2016 at 1:18 pm

The car parks are full because of all the extra offices our old pal built on all the parking spaces. He then filled the multi-storey kindly built "for the people of Wilmslow" with contact parking for all those in aforementioned offices.
This is probaly the best use of this eyesore site which really should be knocked down and rebuilt to modern standards.

Jon Armstrong

Tuesday 26^th January 2016 at 3:13 pm

I think a another reason for the car parks being full is the significant percentage of the population who despite being fit and healthy think it unimaginable to walk more than about 20 paces.

Alan Hill

Wednesday 27^th January 2016 at 2:59 pm

Given that the gym will be full of cycling and running machines there's a slight irony that parking for cars is the problem ! Presumably they know what the're doing but I wonder about the demand for 24 hour training in Wilmslow given it's occupational structure.Also wonder about the effect on the Leisure Centre gym which is well equipped but generally under utilised.

Raz Hass

Thursday 28^th January 2016 at 11:46 am

24/7 gym with no parking ????

we already got 5 gym around and in wilmslow area why we need another one , i dont know specially with no parking , the town center already busy and no where to park its nightmare join the day , so im not sure how this going work out .

i will say no sorry not for me
good luck anyway

Stuart Pilkington

Thursday 28^th January 2016 at 12:37 pm

It's hard enough to park there now this is ridiculous. There's enough gyms we don't need another one! Very disappointed

Simon Smith

Thursday 28^th January 2016 at 2:42 pm

Being used is better than an eyesore vacant site.
The town centre needs signs of life, and not just around office hours.

Thursday 28^th January 2016 at 2:50 pm

So unless you guys actively want the unit to remain empty, where do you think extra parking is going to come from? They are making three spaces on what was the patio, which is realistically the absolute maximum they could do.

This is three more spaces than almost every shop, cafe, pub or restaurant in the town provides. You could probably count on the finger of one hand the ones that do provide any.

Steve Savage

Friday 29^th January 2016 at 9:27 am

Don't see the issue here, many of the shops and all of the coffee shops in Wilmslow provide no parking for customers. This will be a good facility for local office workers and town centre residents to use...what's not to like?