AN EMPTY garage on a city business park will soon be demolished to way make for a gym after plans were backed by the council.

A vacant unit, last used by Motor and Body Repairs as an MOT garage, on Venture Business Park in Weir Lane in Worcester would be demolished and replaced with a new and modern building comprising of three units - the biggest of which would be converted into a gym.

The aim of the project is to demolish the existing unit, which is old and tired, to create a larger and more modern commercial building to fit in better with the surrounding businesses and to make greater and more efficient use of the space.

The new building would create around 660 square metres of floorspace, of which just under two-thirds would be taken up by the proposed new gym.

The two free units could either remain split or opened up into one dependent on which business wanted to take them over.

A total of 15 car parking spaces would also be provided.

Around 30 new jobs would be created across the three units, according to the application, ten of which would be made by the new gym and an estimated 20 more from the two remaining units.

A statement by Matthew Construction, included with the application, said: “As identified, the site currently provides no economic benefit.

"This proposal will not undermine the employment site but, instead, would have a significant positive economic impact.

"Furthermore, the wider industrial estate already contains existing leisure uses in the form of the adjoining swimming pool and a golf driving‐range.

"It is considered that this gym would complement these uses without undermining them or the wider industrial estate.

"Additionally, the existing unit is inflexible for adaption due to its age and construction materials. In contrast, this application will complement the modern units in Venture Business Park and will deliver a more flexible employment unit.

"This ensures that the economic benefits of the site will be retained in the longer‐term, irrespective of potential market changes and demands."

The proposal were backed by planning officers at Worcester City Council last Friday (April 17).