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Gym to muscle into Inverness as long as it’s quiet


By Neil MacPhail

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Former Currys unit in Inverness...Picture: Gary Anthony
Former Currys unit in Inverness...Picture: Gary Anthony

A NATIONAL fitness company has been granted planning permission to open a 24-hour gym in Inverness – on condition any noise is kept below nuisance levels.

The Gym Group had applied to Highland Council to change the vacant former Currys/PC World store in Telford Retail Park into a budget gym and health and fitness centre.

The store became available when Currys moved to another unit in the same retail park.

In a planning statement prepared for The Gym, it stated the aim was to encourage health and wellbeing by providing a new commercial leisure use to meet current need and would improve the health and fitness of residents, as well as making a contribution to the local economy through the creation of jobs. There were no objections.

The statement added that an assessment of other potential available sites within the area identified there were no suitable available vacant sites.

The consultant’s report stated: “Although relatively new to the UK, the low-cost model is actually well established. McFit in Germany and Planet Fitness in the USA are examples where the model has expanded nationally with great success.

“The concept is based around a no-frills principle where clubs contain a large selection of (usually market leading) equipment with the items which are expensive to operate and maintain, such as swimming pools, saunas or studios, not provided as part of the offer.”

An additional report stated that noise from the proposed unit “will likely be generally inaudible to occupants of nearby dwellings”.

The statement added: “Providing a high level of security throughout the operation is a principle objective of The Gym Group. Maintaining a friendly and welcoming environment and deterring any antisocial behaviour is a priority to both the Gym Group and to its members.”

The Gym has 169 similar operations in the UK.


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