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Anytime Fitness to enter UK market
US-based operator announces plans to launch first British club by autumn 2010
By Pete Hayman
US-based health club operator Anytime Fitness has announced plans to launch 50 sites in the UK and Ireland by the end of 2012 after it secured a master franchise agreement. The company, which aims to
expand its international operations, currently operates 1,250 clubs in the US and has opened nearly 100 facilities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and India. Potential sites are being
considered in the Greater London area and across south east and south west England, with locations, including suburban markets near large cities, as well as smaller towns that do not have a health club.
IN BRIEF
University of Bolton student opens gym
University of Bolton student
The operator is set to move into the UK market later this summer
Anytime Fitness' UK clubs
will be 4,000sq ft (371.6sq m) in size and fitted with cv and strength machines. Justin McDonell, Anytime
Fitness master franchisee for Australia and New Zealand, has been appointed to lead the
master franchise group for the UK and Ireland. Independent retail planning
consultant Andy Thompson – also part of the group – said:
"We hope to open the first Anytime Fitness club in the UK by the end of this summer."
Work starts on new £6m Uxbridge College facility
By Pete Hayman
Construction work on a new £6m sport and leisure develop- ment is now underway to replace ageing facilities at Uxbridge College, west London. Kier Group will deliver the
complex, which will boast a 1,000sq ft (93sq m) fitness suite – 50 per cent larger than the current one, equipped with 25 stations and a free weights area. A new sports hall – accom- modating five-a-side football,
A larger fitness suite is among the plans for the development
basketball, netball, volleyball and a full-size scoreboard – will be built and will also be double
the size of an existing 40-year- old hall. An outdoor multi-use games area is also planned. Sustainable materials will be
used during the construction phase, which will see changes to road access at the Park Lane campus in Uxbridge. Uxbridge College principal
Laraine Smith said: "The sports hall is one of the last of our original buildings to get a complete upgrade, and the development will ensure we have the best possible facilities."
Work on the second phase of a £12.6m revamp at Leatherhead Leisure Centre, Surrey, is due to be completed on 7 June. Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) plans to
open a range of new facilities on the weekend of 12-13 June, including new first-floor male and female gym changing facilities.
© Cybertrek 2010
Leatherhead Leisure Centre scheme nears milestone
Sauna, steam and therapy rooms, a recep-
tion area and a café are also among the new facilities, which will complement a 439sq m (4,721sq ft) fitness suite created in phase one. In addition to the 90-station fitness suite, a
purpose-built soft play area fitted out by House of Play was also part of stage one.
Mohammed 'Mo' Yacoobali has opened his own fitness club using mainly non-traditional pieces of equipment. Mo Power Gym was designed by Yacoobali, who is studying an MSc in strength and conditioning, and uses equipment such as anchors, chains, sandbags, logs and truck tyres. A heavy roller more commonly found on a cricket ground is also among equipment utilised. Yacoobali said: "We need to think again about fitness regimes and change the way we train the body."
Leadbitter to build £23m London complex
London-based contractor
Leadbitter Group has been awarded a contract to design and construct the new £23m Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, London. Working to original designs drawn up by S&P Architects, the complex will include a 100-station fitness suite and two workout studios with changing facilities. Becontree Heath Leisure Centre will also feature a 10-lane, 25m swimming pool and learner pool; a four-court sports hall and a 500-seat spectator area.
Leisure centre plans for Kensington
The Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea is asking local residents for their views on plans for a new leisure centre. The London Borough council is faced with the challenge of building a new secondary school and rebuilding Kensington Leisure Centre, now that is nearing the end of its useful life. The council revealed that it needs to work out whether the two new sites could be built on the land now occupied by the existing leisure centre.
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