Warehouse development plan agreed for former riverside gym
A former gym on Wearside is set for a major transformation to make way for new industrial warehouse uses.
In August 2021, Sunderland City Council validated a planning application for the Xercise4Less gym building off Wayfarer Road in the Southwick ward of the city.
According to planning documents,thebuildingoriginally housedacallcentreforafurniture retailer before planning permission was granted for a gym at the site in 2014.
Newplansaimedtoopenup new uses for the now-vacant building, including for general industrialpurposesorforstorage and distribution.
Aspartoftheplans,newexterior cladding was proposed for the building alongside the removal of 105 parking bays to create a service yard area.
The proposed refurbishmentalsoincludedtheremoval ofpartoftheexistingsub-floor to create ‘open plan double height warehouse space.’
After considering all representations, Sunderland City Councilapprovedtheplanning application on Thursday, November 18.
A report prepared by council planners said the principle of the development was acceptable and would help to safeguard a “key employment area.”
Council planners also said that the proposals would “not compromisevisualorresidentialamenityorhighwaysafety.”
The planning report goes
on to say the development is unlikely to have unacceptable levelsofnoiseharmfultothose
nearby.Itreads:“Theproposal identifies a service yard to the rear of the application premisesonthesiteofanexistingcar park, and loading doors are located on the river facade of the building effectively attenuating any propagated noise from the loading of vehicles.
“Given the orientation of the building, topography, nature of surrounding uses and position of intervening buildings, it is considered that the proposed use as class B8 [storage/distribution]isacceptable and is unlikely to generate adverselevelsofnoiseatthenearest sensitive receivers.”
The planning application listsCableProperties&Investments as the applicant for the scheme.
Underplanningconditions, work to convert the former gym must commence on site within the next three years.
For more information on the application, visit Sunderland City Council’s online planningportalandsearchreference: 21/01569/FUL