A NEW gymnasium could be on the cards for Worcester city centre if planners give the go-ahead to the ambitious scheme this week.

Shipley Leisure Enterprises Ltd has applied to Worcester City Council for permission to make alterations to the former Scala Theatre, Crown Passage, to create a 500 sq m gym.

The grade II-listed building, which is in the historic conservation area of the city, is home to Shipley's Amusement Arcade, a tanning salon and a fast-food kebab house, called Istanbul.

In the plan, the kebab house would be replaced by a shop, with entrances on to Angel Place and Crown Passage.

Extra shopping space would be created behind the amusement arcade, with the gym taking up space on the first and second floors, where the shops have been empty since 2000.

Service access would be via Angel Lane and Crown Passage and trade rubbish would be disposed of in the yard off Angel Lane.

No residents have sent representations to the council, but the city's conservation team is keen to ensure the alterations to the building do not affect its grade-II listing or have an impact on the conservation area in which it lies.

The scheme is due to come before the city council's next planning meeting, at 1.30pm on Thursday, in the Guildhall.

Planning officers are recommending the scheme is approved as it makes use of a semi disused building in the heart of the city centre.

The Worcester News was unable to speak to anyone from Shipley Leisure or the applicant's agents, the Building Design Group, despite numerous attempts to contact them.