A FATHER and son are hoping to turn their 24 hour gym into the health hub of Chippenham with a development that will double their overall floorspace and provide eight flats for vulnerable people.

Tony and Jordan Gill have applied to expand Atlas Gym on New Road into the empty estate agents next door to provide more space and equipment for their current members. Plans to build a three-storey sheltered accommodation building, which would be operated by Allied Care on the rear of the site, have also been submitted with the aim of providing vulnerable adults and a warden or carer with a more central location to live.

"What we are looking to do is grow this part of Chippenham into the health hub of the town and the proposed expansion is a direct reflection of that vision," Jordan said. "The gym will be expanded onto a second level and that would obviously increase the floor space of the gym itself and we would also like to invite other professionals who work in the health industry, such as nutritionists or psychologists, to work alongside us.

"The expansion will include more equipment for our users and a studio space for classes, which is something we do not currently offer.

"As for the flats, there is currently a shortage of houses for people who need special care or rehabilitation in Chippenham, so we want to build these flats to address this problem and help give something back to the community."

The gym, which currently boasts more than 1,600 members, has only been up and running for a year and the property developers are looking forward to sharing their passion of health and wellbeing across the town.

"It is a big investment but we want to aim high," Mr Gill added. "We believe in the town and want to provide something that is missing from the area and the only way to move forward is to continue that growth."

However, the Gills have already faced their first hurdle as Chippenham Town Council has already objected to the plans on the basis that the buildings are not in keeping with the surrounding area.

For more information bout the plans, visit Wiltshire Council's planning portal and use the reference 17/06371/FUL.