Gym planned on Eltham High Street in former Next shop unit

Eltham High Street is set to see a new gym in the former Next unit.

A planning application – visible here – has been submitted for change of use by Snap Fitness.

Altered usage of the unit continues a theme of an evolving role of the High Street from one where shops predominate to one where socialising and spaces such as gyms grow in use.

Many High Streets are changing to include gyms, restaurants, pubs, cinemas or places like Escape Rooms, and Eltham seems to be doing well keeping up with changes as online shopping and banking see long-known names depart.

The recent £6 million public realm project has also improved the area’s attractiveness and usability on foot with wider pavements.

The gym will be located beside the Vue cinema which opened in the recent past with a restaurant at street level and bar above.

Snap Fitness are a global company – and if you conduct a search for “Snap Fitness Eltham” the results show a branch in Eltham, Australia.

Recent new homes and proposed developments also offer areas such as Eltham the chance to thrive long term with additional custom in the area.

Eltham also retains a large number of excellent pubs including relatively new additions such as The Rusty Bucket.

Considering the decline in some places amid covid, online shopping and changing patterns of usage it’s doing very well.

While some complain about changes such as gyms or food places coming, if they don’t then stagnation and decline follow. Evolve or die.

And that applies to new homes. To retain vitality in a changing world footfall from new residents is essential. Areas that succeed recognise the landscape in 2022 is not what existed in 1992.