Cooke & Arkwright’s Retail & Leisure agency team acted for the landlord on the letting, alongside joint agent Smith Price RRG and the firm’s Building Surveying department carried out landlord’s works prior to the tenant fitting out.
The new gym is a franchise of énergie Fitness, a rapidly growing, multi-award winning fitness and wellness franchising club brand established in 2003 with over 100,000 members.
Jake Budd, Franchisee of énergie Fitness Pontypridd said, “These premises are a good size and well placed in a high street location with minimal competition. We spent four months promoting and fitting out the gym before opening, and the response has been fantastic. Within two weeks around 1,400 members joined us.
“Cooke & Arkwright have been very professional. We faced many issues along the way, not least securing the change of use from A1 Retail to D2 but both the building and agency teams have been available to help in any way possible and kept in good communication throughout to get this deal over the line.”
Ben Davies, Associate with Retail & Leisure said, “Applying for Change of Use wasn’t straight forward, but énergie’s planners were on the ball throughout the process. Having obtained consent we are very pleased to see a good leisure occupier contributing to the growing mix in the town centre.
“It’s becoming increasingly evident that high streets need to adapt moving forward, offering more than just retail destinations, becoming places where people can live, work and relax, with a good mix of residential, retail, leisure and communal spaces.
“In Pontypridd, projects are under way which should help kick off resurgence. The Llys Cadwyn mixed office and leisure development at the gateway to the town centre will house Transport for Wales and should have a real positive impact on the town. énergie Fitness will be well placed to take advantage of the increased footfall.”