Future of 'one of Manchester's first gyms' under threat

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A Manchester swimming pool is set to close down — threatening the future of a Bannatyne health club understood to be one of the city's first gyms.

A planning bid from the owners of Sunlight House, on Quay Street, shows ambitions ‘for internal and external alterations associated with use of part ground and basement floors for flexible restaurant, office and leisure uses, including removal of swimming pool’.

Kinrise (Sunlight Limited) submitted the propels in July. A decision from the council’s planning department is expected soon.

A spokesperson for Bannatyne — the firm which operates the gym and swimming pool at the base of the grade-II art deco building — has acknowledged the application and ‘expects’ its existing lease ‘to continue’. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. Join our FREE Manchester City Centre WhatsApp group by clicking here “We note the landlord has made a planning application relating to the existing building,” the statement from the firm, headed up by former Dragon Den star Duncan Bannatyne. “We have a lease in place and expect it to continue.” Planning documents submitted on behalf of Kinrise say the application is for: “Planning and Listed Building Consent for internal and external alterations associated with use of part ground and basement floors for flexible restaurant, office and leisure uses, including removal of swimming pool, improved access to atrium space, provision of accessible cycle store, shopfront alterations and other associated changes.” The basement of the building was converted into a health club in 1989, and ground floor followed in 1990, as Herriots.