Plans approved to convert former Chester Argos into 24-hour gym

By Dherran Titherington 24th Mar 2025

Argos permanently ceased trading in the the unit last year (Image via: Google)
Argos permanently ceased trading in the the unit last year (Image via: Google)

Plans to convert the former Argos unit in Chester's Greyhound Retail Park into a 24 hour gym have now been approved.

Argos permanently ceased trading in the Sealand Road unit last year.

A lawful development certificate had been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in November.

It said: "We are seeking to confirm the lawfulness of the proposed use of the above unit (formerly Argos) as a class E gymnasium that can operate on an unrestricted 24 hour basis from Monday to Sunday inclusive."

In its approval of the conversion, the officer report highlighted the consistent class E use for the unit's prior use as Argos, and proposed use as a gym and café.

The report said: "Unit 6 has operated as a retail unit for several years and would fall under the Use Class E (a).

"The operation of a gymnasium with ancillary café would fall under the Use Class E."

Planning permission is not required to change between any of the uses within Class E, unless there are restrictive obligations or conditions.

Highlighting this, it said: "Based on the above it can be concluded that there are no restrictive obligations or conditions are on the unit and therefore planning permission is not required for the unit to operate as gymnasium on an unrestricted 24-hour basis."

You can find the application here.

     

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