A NEW gym chain could be arriving in a retail park after plans were give the green light.

An empty unit in Barrow’s Cornerhouse Park has been earmarked to be filled by national chain The Gym.

The company submitted plans to Barrow Council for approval.

Councillors have now approved proposals to change the use of the unit from retail to a gym space

The new gym would open in place of the former Maplin store, which closed in 2018 after the electronics retailer collapsed into administration.

A statement making up the plans said: “The proposed leisure development, located within an edge of centre location, will contribute to the diversity of the leisure offer in Barrow.

“The introduction of a low cost national gym operator will improve choice and competition in the area.

"The unit is currently vacant, following the collapse of the Maplin business, and the closure of the store in spring 2018, resulting in the loss of local employment opportunities.

"The proposed development therefore provides an opportunity to re-occupy the unit for an economically active use, contributing positively to the local area, providing investment and job opportunities."

According to the plans, The Gym looked at number of other sites in Barrow before deciding on the unit in Cornerhouse Retail Park.

These included two former nightclubs on Cornwallis Street as well as the empty Poundworld and the Poundland shop in Dalton Road, which is still in use by the discount chain.

Other gym chains in Barrow include DW Fitness First at Cornmill Park and Nuffield Health in Hollywood Park.

The plans say minor work will take place on the empty unit.

The Gym has around 160 branches across the country and around 700,000 members.