Shepton Mallet's Townsend Shopping Park is set to welcome a 24-hour Snap Fitness gym, following approval of a planning application to transform the former Laura Ashley unit.

The proposal to change the use of Unit 4A from retail to a gym was approved on Wednesday, 15 January 2025. The gym will operate around the clock, seven days a week, providing state-of-the-art fitness facilities for Shepton residents.

Unit 4A has been vacant since Laura Ashley closed in March 2020, with previous plans for Superdrug to take over the space falling through in April last year. The approval marks a new chapter for the shopping park, bringing fresh life to the long-empty unit.

Snap Fitness, a global fitness chain founded in 2003, operates more than 1,000 locations in over 20 countries, serving over half a million members. Known for its 24/7 access and flexible membership options, the company has been steadily expanding in the UK since opening its first gym in Milton Keynes in 2012.

The addition of Snap Fitness to Shepton Mallet promises to cater to a wide range of fitness enthusiasts, from early risers to late-night gym-goers, while offering the latest equipment and facilities.