A national gym company could open its first Bradford branch in a section of a major supermarket – new plans have revealed.
The Gym Group has over 240 premises across the country, with the nearest being Leeds, Huddersfield and Wakefield.
Now the business has submitted an application showing it intends to open a branch in the Great Horton Road Tesco Extra store – which is downsizing its retail floor space.
It would be based in new unit being created within the supermarket.
The fitness company has submitted plans for the work to Bradford Council – but in a letter to the planning department they suggest that the new gym would not need planning permission.
Their application says gyms and shops fall into the same planning class – and so creating a gym in a supermarket does not require full planning permission.
With no restrictions on opening hours – the company says it will be able to open the gym for 24 hours a day without requiring a full planning application.
Instead the company is applying for a “lawful development certificate.”
Bradford Council approved plans for the Great Horton Road Tesco in 2005.
The application says: “Tesco are reducing their operational floorspace and subdividing their unit. This provides an opportunity to deliver a leisure facility to serve the local community.
“Tesco will remain within the majority of the building, with the subdivided space to be utilised for indoor sport, recreation and fitness use.
“The Gym Group is looking to expand into new locations throughout the UK and are an established operator having over 240 similar operations in locations across the UK.
“The Gym Group aims to increase access to health and fitness activities to a wide demographic to encourage and improve health by providing a low cost and flexible gym membership option.
“On average 35% of The Gym Group’s members have not been to a gym before with The Gym Group attempting to provide its facilities to a much wider market. The Gym Group provides a high quality but cheaper option for health and fitness activity.
“The current lawful use as a retail shop and proposed lawful use of this accommodation both fall within Class E of the Use Class Order.
“The proposal therefore does not amount to development, meaning it does not require planning permission.”
Bradford Council will decide if the plans class as lawful development by June.
