Gym set to open on site of wedding venue row
ATOWN centre building subject to a long-running planning wrangle over plans for a 600-guest wedding venue looks set to become a gym instead.
Hurstwood Holdings has let Orient One in Rawtenstall - to gym fit out specialists, D.S.C. Building and Maintenance Limited on a 10-year lease.
The Bolton-based company, which counts JD Sports among its clients, plans to convert the 19,668 sq ft former supermarket building to create its second ‘Thrive’ gym; a state-of-theart facility providing the latest workout equipment, a Pilates and a spinning studio as well as a healthy cafe.
Twelve months ago, Hurstwood won an appeal against Rossendale Borough Council - securing planning permission to enable a change of use allowing it to also be used as a wedding venue.
However, that proposal has now been scrapped.
Rossendale’s council leader said it was “good” to see the building, on New Hall Hey Road, being used. She said planning permission for this type of change of usage is no longer needed due to changes in planning law introduced by the government last year.
The Manchester-based property company acquired the building, complete with 150 car parking spaces, in 2006 when it was operating as a Kwik Save supermarket, before becoming retail discount store Winners.
The previous change of use proposal for a restaurant/banqueting hall/wedding and events venue had been opposed by the New Hall Hey Residents Association, a 287-signature petition, and refused by the council’s development control committee in August 2019 on the grounds of highway safety/parking, noise and light pollution.
However, Valley taxpayers were left to foot full appeal costs as a result of the verdict, in addition to unsettled costs from an earlier partially-upheld appeal decision from last January.
Hurstwood Holdings said quoting rental level for the building was at £120,000 per annum, and they had taken their decision after “careful consideration.”
Chairman and CEO Stephen Ashworth said: “We wanted something that would ultimately benefit the local community and after careful consideration, we agreed that Thrive presented the best long term use for the building that would add to the local amenity offering.”
Coun Barnes said: “It’s good to see this building being brought back into use after standing empty for so long.”
Amy McCandlish, of the New Hall Hey Residents Association, said: “The general feeling is very positive about the new gym, and a relief that the wedding venue is no longer going ahead.
“Thrive Gym will be a great addition to the New Hall Hey area, and we’re glad to see the building put to good use.”