Plans lodged for 24-hour gym on site of The Old Factory Shop in Staple Hill

Plans to transform The Old Factory Shop in Staple Hill into a 24-hour gym have been lodged with South Gloucestershire Council.

The store, which sold discounted clothing and furniture on Broad Street, closed on July 15 after the landlord anounced plans to redevelop the site, forcing the retail chain to exit its lease.

And now developer Gladstone Noble Ltd has submitted plans for a gym in the same building, featuring four rooms filled with different equipmet along with a spinning studio, changing rooms and toilets.

According to the plans, Snap Fitness would run the gym while the current access and parking outside the building would remain.

Snap Fitness would staff the building between 6.0am-9pm, with the gym being accessible to members only through a secure member swipe card system outside of those times.

“This provides flexibility for members to pursue their fitness regime at convenient times,” the application statement reads.

Snap Fitness currently operates gyms at Clifton Down Shopping Centre, Ashton Gate and Filton.

According to Google, Broad Street is already home to one gym and there are a number of personal trainers dotted around the area.

Back in July, South Gloucestershire Councillor Michael Bell told BristolWorld the loss of The Old Factory Shop was a ‘sad loss’ for the area as many elderly people along with those worst-hit by the cost of living crisis shopped there.