FITNESS fans and leisure lovers could soon be making a beeline for West Heath Shopping Centre in Congleton.

The centre is earmarked for a £1.5 million redevelopment by its owners, work on which is due to begin in November.

The radical revamp is aimed at creating a modern, 21st century shopping centre and attracting more customers and new businesses.

Centre owners Hollins Murray Group are talking to various businesses about taking over units in the centre, the refurbishment of which should be complete by next summer.

A major part of the scheme involves creating a two-storey extension to the centre, which would feature shops and a leisure club.

The club would be situated on the first floor and part of the ground floor, two thirds of which would be taken by shops.

The first floor would feature fitness and aerobics studios, a health and beauty salon, caf bar, sunbeds, female and male changing rooms and showers.

The ground floor part of the club would include a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and spa bath.

The redevelopment is due to be undertaken in three phases, the first involving the rebuilding of the unit currently home to Kwik Save into six units.

Phase two consists of creating the extension, and the final phase involves the demolition of the South East mall.

Existing tenants in the South East wing are to move into refurbished units to allow for the demolition.

Hollins Murray is seeking planning approval for the scheme from the borough council.