A FORMER nightclub in the heart of the town centre is to be transformed into a club of an altogether different kind, after planning permission was granted.

Retros Music Bar, which closed its doors back in February of last year, will become the new home of The Core, formerly known as Nutrition at the Hangout.

The incredibly popular wellness club has helped more than 1000 members lose more a tonne of weight each month and will now be moving some of its services to the High Street.

John Fielding, owner of The Core, made the application to Cheshire West and Chester Council to move the club's current advice and guidance services from its current Ash Street base, right into the heart of town.

The existing calisthenics gym services at Ash Street will not be moving to the new premises, however, with them remaining at the current base.

In the application, Mr Fielding said: "Our Nutrition Club services involve private members dropping in during opening hours to receive nutrition coaching services.

"We invite members of the public to visit our services, by appointment only, for a free initial 'wellness evaluation' where they decide whether to join as a member or not."

Cheshire West and Chester council granted permission for the change of use from a nightclub on May 17, with the applicant given three years from that date to begin work.

To ensure acceptable use within the town centre, the premises can only be used for class E purposes - which means for the provision of health or medical services - and for no other use.

Further conditions as part of the planning permission include opening between the hours of 6am-10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am-6pm on Sunday's and Bank Holidays.

As part of the application process, the planning officer stated in the report: "The application site relates to a prominent, three storey building which is currently vacant.

"Sited within the primary frontage within Northwich town centre, the site is also located within the Northwich Town centre Conservation Area and does not involve the loss of a retail unit with the previous use being a nightclub which ceased use in February 2020.

"As the proposed development does not involve the loss of a retail use, there would be no impact on local retail vitality or viability.

"Further to this, the proposed use would see an increase in footfall during the day and one that would enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre by bringing a vacant building back into use.

"The applicant has applied for a change of use to a Class E use, however, given the rather unique nature of the business, its town centre location and the broad range of uses that can be implemented under Class E, a condition is to be imposed restricting the use to the specific requirements.

"It is therefore considered that the principle of the use as a nutrition club is acceptable providing it does not have an unacceptable detrimental impact on the Conservation Area and highway safety."