PERMISSION has been granted for a new gym to move into the former Wilko unit in Bournemouth town centre. 

JD Gyms, part of JD Sports, has been given permission by BCP Council to move into the disused unit in Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre, off Old Christchurch Road. 

Wilko closed in February this year and has been unoccupied since – helping to nudge the closure of budget supermarket Lidl next door last month. 

Low footfall and issues with rent made both businesses unviable in their location. 

Bournemouth Echo: Wilko and Lidl are both shut in Richmond Gardens Shopping CentreWilko and Lidl are both shut in Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre (Image: Daily Echo)

JD Gyms bosses said however they are “excited” to open the site as they believe “Bournemouth is a fantastic location”. 

They add they hope to bring residents affordable and stylish gym facilities to the town. 

The gym is set to have more than 250 pieces of equipment and more than 300 classes every month. 

We have approached JD Gyms for further details on opening dates. 

Alun Peacock, managing director of JD Gyms, previously said: “Bournemouth is a fantastic location for us, and we're excited to expand the JD Gyms offering further into the south west. 

“We’re looking forward to bringing our award-winning fitness offering to the area and providing locals with a stylish and affordable facility in which to achieve their fitness goals. 

“We’ll be opening in early 2023 and will have over 250 pieces of state-of-the-art equipment, large free weights and functional areas and our spacious studios will host over 300 classes a month.” 

Read more: Hopes for a new takeover of Lidl's former town centre unit

Bournemouth's new JD Gyms will be the first of its kind in Dorset – the company already has already opened 77 locations across the UK since it launched in 2014. 

Late last month the owners of Richmond Gardens Shopping Centre, Evolve Estates, said they hope to make some “exciting announcements” soon about tenants coming to both tming to both the former Wilko site and the Lidl unit. 

A spokesperson added: “This is not only good news for the local community but will bring additional footfall to our existing retail tenants. 

“Introducing more leisure schemes is a key way to revitalise shopping centres and we have, for some time, been looking at how we can help to transform Richard Gardens Shopping Centre into a predominantly leisure-led scheme.”