Plans to convert Bridgwater’s Poundland store into a 24-hour gym have been approved by Somerset Council, potentially reshaping the retail landscape of Bridgwater Retail Park. Poundland, which opened at the site on The Leggar in April 2024 after relocating from the town’s former Argos outlet, currently remains operational. However, The Gym Group has secured permission to transform the premises into a gym if Poundland closes within the next three years.
The Gym Group, a prominent operator with over 250 gyms across the UK—including locations in Bath, Bristol, and Midsomer Norton—proposes a facility featuring male and female changing rooms, office space, an entrance lobby, and storage for equipment. The project is projected to create up to 15 full-time jobs.
Despite the approval, Bridgwater Town Council expressed significant concerns. Tim Mander, chair of the town council’s planning committee, highlighted that the applicant did not convincingly demonstrate that retail demand for the unit has diminished. He emphasized that Poundland intends to remain at the site, and the unit is currently operational as retail space. Mander warned that converting the space could undermine the retail park’s function and integrity.
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Additionally, Mander pointed out that existing gym facilities, such as PureGym and Trimwise, are already available within a five-minute walk, questioning the need for another gym. There were also safety concerns: the retail park has previously seen antisocial behavior linked to nighttime car park access. Locking the car park overnight had mitigated these issues, and a 24-hour gym reopening the area at all hours might revive those problems.
Local councillors raised varied opinions during the planning meeting. Councillor Mike Murphy questioned how the new gym’s 24-hour service would compete with existing gyms’ operating hours. Meanwhile, Councillor Ben Ferguson argued that market competition and gyms’ success are commercial matters beyond the planning committee’s remit. Councillor Tony Grimes noted that retail spaces must evolve with changing consumer habits, suggesting that adapting the property use is necessary despite nostalgia for maintaining the status quo.
Following about half an hour of debate, the committee unanimously approved the plans, paving the way for a possible transition from retail store to 24-hour fitness center in Bridgwater.