New lease of life planned for city fitness centre
A city centre gym could be converted into student accommodation under new proposals lodged with planning bosses.
Earlier this month, Sunderland City Council received a planning application for Olympia Fitness and Beauty Centre.
The site covers the first and second floors of 56 High
Street West at the West Walk Retail parade, near Keel Square.
According to planning documents, the gym and office space is currently vacant.
Under new plans applicant Castlecap Investments Ltd aims to transform the upper floors into student apartment ‘clusters.’
A Design and Access statement submitted to council planners outlines the details of the scheme.
If approved, a total of 13 student bedrooms would be provided with associated communal rooms.
Floor plans show seven bedrooms on the first floor and six bedrooms on the second floor.
The planning statement goes on to say: “People are a fundamental consideration in any development proposal.
“Whilst it is challenging to create an inclusive development, which benefits the wider community, a key aim of the design process here is to achieve a mix of bedroom types to enable the creation of balanced development for students, which will provide an enduring benefit to the continued sustainability of the area.
“The development of the application site would provide a total of 13 bedrooms within an existing building, thus adding to the overall stock of residential and student apartments in the area and its potential to maintain and support the existing local services and facilities.”
A decision on the plans is expected to be made by early August.
Comments on the plans can be made by writing to the city council’s planning department up until Friday, July 3.
For more information, visit www.sunderland.gov. uk/online-applications and search planning reference: 20/00916/FUL
Planners will put together a report from details put forward by the developer, public comments and expert opinions .