A new gym could be coming to High Wycombe, it has been revealed – as plans are put forward for the Eden Shopping Centre.
The gym/health and fitness centre would be above the currently empty Monsoon and Accessorize stores – which are set to become a Cote Brasserie.
Buckinghamshire Council already said yes earlier this year to plans to merge the two ground floor empty shop units into one restaurant space, with the French-inspired Cote Brasserie preparing to move in.
Now, fresh plans to transform the first floor – which was always just used as storage space for Accessorize and Monsoon before the two chains went into administration and shut down – have been put forward by Eden in a bid to overhaul the shopping experience.
ALSO READ: Monsoon and Accessorize units in Eden Shopping Centre to become Côte Brasserie
If given the go-ahead, the top floor gym will have its own access door on the ground floor with stairs and a lift.
High Wycombe has a number of gyms, including Anytime Fitness which is already in the Eden Shopping Centre – but with many businesses struggling through the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, one has recently closed.
ALSO READ: Eden Shopping Centre reveals plans for another shipping container restaurant
The Bucks Free Press revealed in June that Welcome Gym, which is part of Wycombe Retail Park in Ryemead Way, was not planning to reopen after lockdown because they struggled to keep the business viable during the months-long closure.
It has not been confirmed if any other gyms are planning to close, although the planned new gym’s nearest “rival”, Anytime Fitness High Wycombe, will be reopening.
ALSO READ: Welcome Gym in High Wycombe will not be reopening
In the plans, Eden said the new gym will help “bring this vacant floorspace back into viable economic use through the introduction of a town centre use”.
They added: “The proposed uses will attract consumers and visitors to the town centre.
“These works will directly increase the footfall by allowing link trips to the shopping centre.”
You can view the full plans online via the planning portal at www.wycombe.gov.uk - search reference 20/06743/FUL.
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