Application to transform former Nike store at Broughton Park into a PureGym under consideration by council

A fresh application to transform the former Nike store at Broughton Park into a brand new PureGym has been resubmitted to county planners. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

PureGym is a chain of ‘no frills’ health clubs and is Britain’s largest gym chain with over 1,000,000 members registered to their gyms. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Most locations are open 24 hours a day and offer cardio equipment, fixed and free weights, and exercise classes, there are over 200 pieces of training equipment in most gyms. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The gym operator initially submitted proposals to Flintshire council in January 2019 for a new 1,069sqm facility at the shopping park in Broughton. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The application for a new gym in the double unit formerly occupied by Nike was approved shortly before the UK went into lockdown in March 2020. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

PureGym’s interest in the site cooled as gyms were closed in the wake of the pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The unit has been temporarily occupied by Aldo, the shoe retailer which fell into administration in June 2020. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Aldo signed a short term lease and opened a ‘pop up’ shop selling discounted stock. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The initial application PureGym allowed for the redevelopment of one unit with the addition of a 505 sqm mezzanine. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If approved the new plan will see “the simple conversion of the entire unit to accommodate Pure Gym plus the introduction of a 186 sqm mezzanine. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The current proposals would be slightly smaller than the initial plan with a total floor space of 1,048 sqm. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A document submitted by Tetra Tech Planning states: “These revised proposals are deemed to positively contribute to the existing retail / leisure provision occupying the park, whilst the proposed gym contributes directly to the Well-Being Goals of PPW (Planning Policy Wales) to encourage active and healthier lifestyles. ” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The gym will provide new jobs opportunities, both direct and indirect and represent a positive investment in the Broughton locality.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The planning officer is currently considering the application based on “policies and all evidence and information received.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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