Large Woolwich town centre shop unit sees gym plan submitted

A large Woolwich centre shop has seen plans submitted for a 24 hour gym.

The unit previously saw an application for a B&M in late 2025 which could have been a real shot in the arm for the town centre. That would have driven a fair bit of footfall but didn’t progress. Instead ‘Home Value’ moved in.

Now comes plans for a 24-hour gym from The Gym Group. The unit was previously a Jobcentre, New Look and Littlewoods.

Comment

It’s hard not to see this site becoming a gym as a missed opportunity for Woolwich. B&M is an extremely popular national retailer and would have been something people visit Woolwich for. A gym? The town is already full of them, including the council’s new gym on General Gordon Square.

There’s also a 24 hour ‘Anytime’ gym beside Tesco. A Pure gym is located near the Elizabeth line as well as other independents.

Many new developments have on-site gyms so yet another is not attracting many residents to the main shopping street.

Two other gyms closed in the town centre in the recent past with one being beside Lidl and national chain Energie Fitness on Hare Street.

Will a further gym attract much footfall to Powis Street? Doubtful. I could however see many cars parked up of an evening around it, not helped by Greenwich’s non-existent parking enforcement in the evenings and weekends.

That’d really help the recent town centre upgrade which is already looking shabby with vehicles hitting new street furniture and planters – which naturally aren’t being repaired.

Woolwich leadership

Of course there’s the argument that if there’s no demand then they wouldn’t open, which is fair enough.

But the inability for Woolwich to attract popular national retailers continues to be a concern. Is the council up to pushing for better? Of course they don’t actually own most units so only have a liaison role.

A new town centre manager has been appointed and a Business Improvement Distrust is possibly on the cards which could do more to lobby and encourage retailers to drive footfall.

It’s no guarantee of success but Woolwich needs better news soon. Just yesterday the excellent Woolwich Front Room announced they were leaving their current unit on Powis Street.

Further along and the former Halifax bank is becoming another KFC. As nice as a Zinger tower burger is this isn’t bringing many more people to the town.

Poundland are in trouble and if they leave then the large former Marks & Spencer unit will be another big hole.

The former WH Smiths has opened as another two-bit store seemingly thrown together. It’s using the same name as a company that opened in Watford then announced a closing down sale a few months later.

On the bright side a new Nepali restaurant is coming on Hare Street which looks promising but Powis Street needs good news soon. B&M would’ve been that but what’s happening the past year is quite the opposite.