A CITY councillor is calling for gym plans for the former Currys unit to be brought before the planning committee. 

Cllr John Tippett-Cooper raised concerns about PureGym's plans for Moorside Retail Park, Moorside Road, in Winnall. 

Currys closed the store in May last year after its lease expired. 

The gym would open 24 hours a day and provide 15 full and part-time jobs. 

By Thursday, January 11, three objections had been submitted to Winchester City Council. 

Cllr Tippett-Cooper, who objected, said: “I am concerned this application raises issues re a mismatch with the objectives of the Movement Strategy and emerging Hampshire LTP/4 policy and policy WT1 which states that the town centre is the preferred location for new development that attracts high visitor numbers and that proposals for new floorspace of 1,000 sq. m outside the town centre will need to demonstrate that it would not have a harmful impact.

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“There is also a question of whether the conversion of usage is appropriate given the nature of the business, which is already well catered for in Winchester. If a decision to convert the usage is to be taken, it may be more appropriate to do so for a business that accounts for an unmet need in Winchester. For example, a site of this nature could offer an opportunity to a provider of children/young people’s entertainment facility, such a soft play centre, which is in great demand in the city.”

Simon Turpin, asset manager for Yarrow Estates Ltd the long leaseholder of the Brooks Shopping Centre, also objected. He said a new gym would have a detrimental impact on Energie Fitness which is in the centre. 

Mr Turpin said: "This proposal is deeply concerning to my clients, our tenants and myself as this would undoubtedly cause damage to the viability and vitality of Winchester, if this application to downgrade the existing planning restriction, at the 'bulky goods' retail park in Winnall, were permitted.

"Within the Brooks, our tenant Energie Fitness, have run a 24-hour gym for a number of years, but have already suffered greatly with the reduction in parking provision in Winchester and the implementation of 24-hour parking tariffs.

"A new gym, with free parking (on top of the free parking at the new Leisure Centre at Bar End), would 'cannibalise' what’s left of their client base.

"Since acquiring the Brooks in January 2023, YEL have worked tirelessly to improve the centre, but if we lost an 'anchor tenant' like Energie Fitness, all this work would be undone and the future of he Brooks brought back into question."

On the application's planning statement, it said: “The proposed gym at Moorside Retail Park is expected to comprise a main gym area, studio, free weights area, spin area and functional zone. In addition, changing facilities and showers will be provided, together with separate staff areas. 

"In addition, the proposed development will bring a vacant building back into use and create up to 15 full and part-time jobs that will prove particularly attractive to younger people. This includes access to the PureGym Academy which provides career diplomas in gym instruction and personal training.”

For more information about the application, search 23/02436/FUL on Winchester City Council's online planning portal.