PLANS to deliver an expanded 24-hour gym facility in Christchurch town centre have been approved as the current retail occupiers of the premises move out.
New Look in Saxon Square closes on Tuesday, September 11 and permission has been given to use the first floor of the unit as a health and fitness facility.
The ground floor of the premises has remained listed as retail use.
Initial plans for a gym in the large vacant unit, which neighbours New Look, were approved in December last year.
The extension application included adding a metal staircase to the rear of the building, which was criticised by a resident.
However, the proposals were approved by a council planning officer.
The officer's report says: "The proposal would retain retail use of the ground floor of the unit and no objection is therefore raised to the loss of first floor retail floorspace (currently used for ancillary storage) in this instance."
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