A NEW gym looks set to be on the way for a Wrexham retail park which lost a similar facility earlier this year.
Wrexham Council’s planning department has given the green light to change the use of Unit D on Plas Coch Retail Park, from Class 1A retail to Class D2 assembly and leisure.
According to the applicants, between 40 to 50 jobs could be created by the conversion to a gym or leisure facility. The unit was previously home to a Sports Direct store.
Gym-goers were dealt a blow earlier this year when it was announced that Everlast would be leaving another of the units on the retail park, which is to be occupied by an M&S Foodhall.
In a supporting statement produced by planning consultants Quod on behalf of applicants Ediston, the owners of the retail park, it is said that much interest has been shown in the vacant Unit D – including from gym operators since the departure of Everlast was announced at the start of the year.
According to the application documents, other vacant units in the city centre, and at other retail parks had been ruled out as being too small, too large or otherwise unviable for a 24/7 gym operator.
A supporting statement submitted with the application said dozens of jobs could be created if the plans were granted.
It states: “The proposals will create around 40 jobs in the local area, comprising a mix of new full and part time jobs. The job creation is significant and there will be tangible positive impact on local employment as a result. Additional jobs will be created during the fit-out process.
“The proposals result in a number of positive impacts, including bringing back into economic use vacant floorspace, increasing the employment opportunities available to the local community, and an investment into the local economy.”
According to other planning documents, there were no highways concerns about the proposals, and Natural Resources Wales also had no concern that the development would increase phosphates – a planning issue that has seen many applications come unstuck in recent months.
The planning statement issued with the application outlined the proposals in more detail.
“The application is pursued following interest in Unit D by a number of leisure operators including gym operators”, it said.
“Although the site comprises an out-of-centre location, it does comprise a well-established retail destination where the principle of main ‘town centre uses’ has been accepted.
“The principle of a gym use within the retail park was previously established by the former use of Unit H (by Everlast Gym).”
It added: “It has been demonstrated that no alternative site exists to accommodate the proposals. The proposals will introduce a gym operator to Plas Coch Retail Park, a use that was previously represented on the Retail Park. The development will maintain consumer choice for local residents.
“The new gym will create employment (circa 40-50 jobs) together with private sector investment in the local economy. These benefits are significant and should be afforded appropriate weight in the overall planning balance.”
Wrexham Council’s chief planning officer David Fitzsimon has given notice of planning approval via delegated decision, subject to conditions covering noise levels.
A condition of the permission is that all work including deliveries to or from the site, should take place between 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 8am to 2pm on a Saturday, and at no time on a Sunday or a Bank Holiday.
Outside these times, any works which are audible beyond the site boundary have the potential to cause unreasonable disturbance to neighbouring premises.
As well as an M&S Foodhall replacing Everlast gym, the former Frankie and Benny’s restaurant unit next door has been torn down to make way for more parking spaces at the retail park.
