Shepton Mallet's Townsend Shopping Park could soon have a new addition, as plans have been submitted to transform the former Laura Ashley unit into a 24-hour Snap Fitness gym.

The proposal seeks to change the use of Unit 4A from retail to a gym, operating around the clock, seven days a week. If approved, the gym will provide Shepton residents with state-of-the-art fitness facilities, catering to everyone from early birds to night owls.

Unit 4A has stood empty since Laura Ashley closed its doors in March 2020, although Superdrug had explored taking over the unit in April last year before abandoning their plans.

Snap Fitness, founded in 2003 by Peter Taunton, is a global chain of 24/7 fitness centres headquartered in the USA. The company operates over 1,000 locations across more than 20 countries, serving over half a million members. In the UK, Snap Fitness has been expanding steadily since opening its first location in Milton Keynes in 2012.

The application is now with Somerset Council for approval.