After almost 37 years, a gym in Newport is set to close and be turned into houses.
Plans have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council by the owners of the Fitness Factory on Portland Street, Mr and Mrs Steve Milton, to demolish the gym, dance and exercise studios.
In its place 8x 2-bed houses and maisonettes with parking spaces, small gardens and cycle storage are set to be built.
According to planning documents, submitted by agents Dicksons Planning and Development, business has dropped.
The Fitness Factory opened in 1984 and survived multiple new gyms opening and expansions, but business started to decline, they say, after the £1million investment in Medina Leisure Centre.
Dicksons says there are too many gyms in Newport now — evidenced by the closure of an independent gym, The Strong Room, at the start of the year.
The Fitness Factory premises are no longer fit for purpose, they say, and require significant investment to keep them watertight, bring them up to modern-day standards and replace ageing gym equipment.
The business will close at the end of April this year, more than 37 years from the day it was first opened.
Removing the ‘large and incongruous’ building would benefit the locality, the agents say, as the buildings look tired and unsightly. This would provide a good opportunity for a high-quality affordable housing development, near the town.
Other uses for the site had been considered but none were viable.
To view plans (22/00054/OUT) you can visit the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 11th March.
roid central to close..such a shame…
Brilliant argument. Too many gyms, as evinced by the closure of one. That makes the closure of two then, surely? Are there too many now? Close two more and build flats, etc. Then try again. If the figures don’t suit, close something else till they do. If none of it makes sense, just get on the council, close your eyes, and hope someone puts something nice in your pocket.
Enjoy your retirement Steve, you have worked hard over the years.
Top guy, deserves to enjoy his retirement.
Its not the fact that there are too many gyms it’s the fact that you have for instance a commercial gym that charges pittance a month that private gyms just cant keep up with.