Gym plan for former Westhill office gets the green light
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A former oil and gas office in Westhill will be transformed into a new gym.
Specialist Valve Services Ltd will convert the vacant two-storey building.
The new fitness facility will be formed in the former Optimus engineering building in Arnhall Business Park.
Optimus moved into the unit back in 2010 but have since relocated to a new base near Aberdeen Harbour.
The building has been vacant for the last two years and the gym proposal was submitted to Aberdeenshire Council earlier this year.
Westhill’s new facility will have a weights area, two fitness suites and a cardio room with equipment including treadmills, rowing machines, cross trainers and exercise bikes.
The new gym, to be named Colosseum Fitness, is expected to be open from 5am to 10pm during the week and from 7am to 9pm at the weekend.
And it will create three full-time and seven part-time jobs.
The application was unanimously approved by the Garioch area committee on Tuesday.
Councillor Iris Walker said the change of use was “fully justified”.
She added: “When we looked at this whole site years and years ago business was a lot different and the oil and gas industry was booming.
“I think it is really good to get a mix and see the buildings back into use.”
Fellow councillor Craig Miller agreed.
He said: “The nature of business has changed in the last couple of years.
“We need to look at ways to diversify amenities that can be utilised in some form rather than having them lie empty.”
Meanwhile councillor Fatima Joji said it was “proposing something that is needed in a growing area”.
Councillors also gave the green light to Cinecosse Ltd for its conversion of an office to a personal trainer suite.
The firm had submitted a retrospective application to the council for its development at Lethenty Mill on the outskirts of Inverurie.
