A NEW 24-hour gym looks set to replace the former mattress shop in Newport.

Plans to convert Mattressman were submitted to the IW Council at the beginning of December last year.

The site, next to Halfords on Townsgate retail park, would be run by Snap Fitness — an international gym that focuses on improving fitness by high intensity interval training.

Plans have been submitted to the council looking to install a new mezzanine floor at the site.

The premises would have a studio, with showers and changing facilities.

The gym would employ three full-time staff and five part-time staff. Outside of manned hours, members would be able to access the gym via a key-card.

The plans said: “It can be clearly seen that there has not been any long-standing tenant especially when compared to Halfords.

“It is believed this is the case due to the reduced size of the unit (in comparison to the adjoining units), which presents a situation to potential tenants of the unit being too small for larger retailers but too big for the smaller, independent retailers, leaving it in a somewhat of a ‘limbo’ state.”