Isle of Wight: Drive-thru restaurant and 24-hour gym gain approval

Change of use planning permission to include a drive-thru restaurant and a 24-hour gym has been approved at a retail park in Newport, Isle of Wight, on behalf of the owners, specialist leisure investor Otium Real Estate.

National consultants Pegasus Group secured the approval to part of the existing ground floor of the complex at Coppins Bridge to provide a drive-thru restaurant, a 24-hour gym and two flexible use spaces.

Planning officers recommended Isle of Wight Council approve the scheme, and said the proposed development would see two large, vacant retail units brought back into use, and that their flexible usage would ‘ensure viability of the wider site into the future’.

The Gym Group and Burger King are the two operators of the 24-hour gym and drive thru restaurant respectively and their openings will result in a number of employment opportunities.

Kate Simpson, of Pegasus Group’s London office, said: “We were extremely pleased to secure approval for this scheme on behalf of our clients, Otium Properties.

“The vitality and viability of the town centre will be enhanced through the proposal and attracting The Gym Group and Burger King demonstrates investor confidence in the potential growth for Newport, which will act as a catalyst for further regeneration and investment.

“The Gym Group have indicated their proposal would result in the generation of approximately 6 staff, and Burger King would seek to employ circa 50 staff (full and part time).”

Ashley Blake, of Otium, said: “Otium specialises in improving leisure assets via active asset management and adding the island’s first national multiple gym operator and first Burger King is part of our plan to widen the offer of this dominant leisure site.

“Pegasus Group were recommended to us and did an excellent job of working with the council, ourselves and the community to deliver the permission.”

The site is located on a prominent road gyratory on the edge of Newport Town Centre and as part of the proposal the existing vehicle access arrangements and associated parking and service vehicle layouts will be modified.

Pegasus Group has more than 330 skilled and experienced staff operating from 13 offices across the UK and services span the entire project process from planning through to design and delivery, specialising in planning, design, environment, economics and heritage.