A new 24/7 gym will finally open in Ashford in December – almost two years after plans were approved by the council.

Bosses at PureGym gained permission to convert the abandoned Office Outlet site on the Warren Retail Park in March 2020.

Their plans were delayed by the ensuing national lockdown – and were then thrown into doubt when the unit was put on the market.

But staff are now preparing to open the site before the end of the year, with a new mezzanine floor installed to increase floorspace.

Ahead of selecting the Warren Retail Park site, other locations were shortlisted across the town by PureGym chiefs.

The largest unit looked at was Connect 38 in Dover Place, while spaces in Kent House and Mace Lane were also considered.

The new site off Simone Weil Avenue will feature more than 200 pieces of equipment, 50kg dumbbells and free wifi.

Visitors won't have to pay for parking, but will share the same car park used by shoppers heading to the adjacent M&S Foodhall and Home Bargains.

A precise date is yet to be confirmed but the gym is set to open in December, with membership offered from £10.99 a month.

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