A city health and fitness club can move to a new and improved base after plans to relocate were given the go-ahead.
Glacier Health and Fitness Club, which operates from a unit off Tower Road in the Hertburn area of Washington, recently lodged a planning bid with Sunderland City Council to move to new premises.
As membership has grown, the gym said its current site has limited day-to-day operations and opportunities for future expansion.
A planning application submitted earlier this year aimed to help the business relocate to a larger space at unit 15 Brindley Road in Washington.
Planning documents said the gym had operated for nearly two decades and provides strength and fitness facilities and children’s academy sessions, as well as supporting health initiatives.
The city council’s planning department has now approved the relocation plans, which include changing the use of an industrial unit to form a new base for the gym business.
Benefits of the proposed new site include more parking spaces, secure gated access, safe drop-off and collection arrangements for children attending academy sessions and additional floor space allowing the expansion of children’s coaching and academy activities.
Applicants previously said the move would allow the business to continue serving its existing membership while expanding the range of health, fitness and community programmes it offers.
Council planning officers said that the retention of an existing “sustainable business” and the service it provides to the local community, as well as the retention of existing jobs, had been given “substantial weight” in the planning decision.
They added that there were no proposed external changes to the industrial unit and no objections from the council’s highways team over highway safety or parking issues.
The council planning report added: “It is considered that the proposal would bring into use a vacant industrial unit, albeit for that of a leisure function.
“The proposed development would see the relocation of an existing long-established local business, the retention of current staff and members.”
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Under planning conditions, the development must be brought forward within three years.
For more information, visit the council’s planning portal website and search for reference 26/01519/FUL.
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