A NATIONAL gym chain is set to take up tenancy in the former Wilko site in Bournemouth town centre.
JD Gyms has submitted a planning application to BCP Council to open the unit in the Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre.
The operator is planning to open early next year on the currently vacant site.
Wilko shut its doors earlier this year on February 12 as the chain struggled to come to ‘more agreeable’ lease terms with the landlord of the retail complex in Old Christchurch Road.
If the plans are approved, it will be the first JD Gyms to open in the Dorset.
JD Gyms bosses said they are"excited" to open the site as they believe "Bournemouth is a fantastic location".
They are aiming to provide residents with "affordable" and "stylish" facilities.
The gym is set to have more than 250 pieces of equipment and more than 300 classes every month.
Alun Peacock, managing director of JD Gyms, said: “Bournemouth is a fantastic location for us, and we're excited to expand the JD Gyms offering further into the south east.
"We’re looking forward to bringing our award-winning fitness offering to the area and providing locals with a stylish and affordable facility in which to achieve their fitness goals.
"We’ll be opening in early 2023 and will have over 250 pieces of state-of-the-art equipment, large free weights and functional areas and our spacious studios will host over 300 classes a month.”
JD Gyms was formed in 2014 and is part of JD Sports Fashion PLC. JD Gyms has 77 gyms across the UK.
The town centre was dealt a serious blow when the Bournemouth Wilko store closed.
Months later, the Lidl store next door announced that it will be closing down as well.
Earlier this year, Roger Jenkins, the national officer for GMB union, said: “It’s yet another nail in the High Street’s coffin and GMB calls on councils and landlords to review commercial leases and offer lower rents.
“Empty high streets and shopping centres are in no one’s interest and but with 400 shops a week closing, this is inevitable - unless the costs of premises can be reduced."
The application for JD Gyms will be considered by BCP Council planners in the coming weeks.
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