PLANS to open a 24-hour gym as part of the Broadway Shopping Centre have been revealed - and if they get the go-ahead it could mean there are four gyms within a few minutes’ walk of each other.

Centre bosses have submitted a planning application to Bradford Council for a 1,506 square metre gym unit in the Petergate Mall side of the development, opening onto Well Street, Little Germany.

National gym chain The Gym, which has 70 locations, has been named as the operator of the new business, should it be approved.

The business, which is predicted to create about 15 jobs, would add to the growing number of city centre gyms within a short distance of each other. There is already a gym, run by Gym4All, at the Leisure Exchange, and the under-construction Xchange development, on Charles Street and Market Street, will also include a gym on its first floor.

Finally, a recently approved development at the former Royal Mail sorting office at Forster Square is expected to include a similar gym business.

The Broadway’s application says an area of the Petergate Mall could be used as a gym, but the application also asks for the company to retain the ability to convert the facility back to a shop or restaurant.

The entrance will be on Well Street, allowing customers to access the gym when the shopping centre is closed, and via the roof car park.

The planning application says: “The site is located in The Broadway, a newly established shopping centre and will provide an additional role to the current leisure offer.

“The nature of the business usually attracts locally based clientele who are likely to travel to the gym on foot.

“The city centre location provides excellent transport links including bus and train, whilst parking is available within the shopping centre car park.”

The company says the gym will be “aimed at a different market to the current offer typically in the area.”

A decision on the application is expected in October.

The Xchange development, at Arndale House opposite The Broadway, will also include a first floor gym, based above shops, cafes and restaurants including Five Guys and Esquire’s Coffee.

The floors above the gym, former office space, are being converted into more than 100 flats.

Gym chain easyGym will operate that site.

The company did not want to comment on plans for a rival gym being submitted, but a spokesman said it would be moving into the Xchange development next month to start fitting it out.

The company’s website says it is investing over £1 million into the Xchange gym, which will open from 6am to 11pm. October 17 has been earmarked as the opening date.

In April, landowner British Land was granted planning permission to demolish the former Royal Mail sorting office and build a leisure complex including a six-screen cinema, eight restaurants and a gym in its place.

The development, called Forster Square Retail, is set to create 200 jobs. The approved plans for the site will allow the gym there to open 24 hours, although an operator has yet to be announced.

British Land was unavailable for comment.