A 24-HOUR gym could move into an empty shop at an Oxford retail park.

Health and fitness operator The Gym Group wants to open the facility at Horspath Driftway Retail Park, next to the Eastern Bypass.

The plans seek to change the building from retail to leisure use and add an extension to the site, which was vacated by Carpetright in December 2017.

It is the only empty unit on the retail park, which also comprises an Aldi supermarket, Costa Coffee and Homebase store.

Read also: Oxfam to start reopening shops in England

The extension would be built to the rear of the building, with the gym at ground level and changing rooms on the floor above.

The development would use the retail site's existing car park and have capacity for ten bicycle spaces.

The application's design and access statement says: " Its location, in close proximity to housing, student accommodation and local businesses, makes the site a prime opportunity for provision of a gym facility to serve the local population."

The facility aims to include a range of cardio-vascular and resistance equipment, but no 'destination facilities', such as a sauna, swimming pool or cafe.

Ten full-time members of staff would be employed at the gym, which would recruit locally 'where possible'.

The Gym Group operates 180 leisure facilities across the UK and has been 'looking to provide a facility in Oxford for some time', according to client UrbanSpace Planning.

Go to oxford.gov.uk to view the proposals