A WARRINGTON firm has been given the green light to pursue its expansion bid by opening in a new venue.

Plans were submitted to Warrington Borough Council last month to open a gym in a currently vacant commercial location.

Applicant Shift Health and Fitness sought a change of use of an existing unit on School Brow near the town centre – and this has been granted permission by planners.

Formerly occupied by Sulzpasha, a business in the automotive sector, permission was sought to convert the unit into a gym, with the creation of an internal mezzanine floor.

Shift Health and Fitness already has an existing gym on Wilderspool Causeway which has 150 members, but the new premises could double this to 300.

Plans state: “The application unit is the back part of an existing retail unit, and it is currently vacant.

“To increase the usable area of the existing unit (238sqm) the client intends to build a mezzanine floor of 99sqm, plus the provision of new facilities at ground level.

“There are no proposed extensions or exterior alterations to the existing building, but there is an existing non-illuminated signage to be installed above the main entrance and under separate advertisement consent.

“The existing property, with access to the rear of the main building, includes three car parking spaces that are demised exclusively for the unit.

“This will be more than adequate car parking for the proposed use, particularly having regard to the parking provision already at the retail park.

“The site also benefits from good provision by non-car modes of transport, with bus stops located directly adjacent to the site.”

The new business is not expecting more than 20 to 25 people to be on-site at any one time, with opening hours between 6am and 9pm, Monday to Thursday, 6am to 8pm on Fridays, and 7am to 1pm on weekends.

Plans conclude: “The application proposal will provide an opportunity for a well-established business to locate in Warrington.

“The unit is currently vacant, and this proposal will bring it back into beneficial use, enabling the new business to trade in an efficient and safe manner, creating new employment opportunities.

“Granting this proposal will result initially in the creation of at least eight to 10 full-time equivalent jobs.

“Accordingly, we believe that the proposal should be welcomed.”