FITNESS fanatics could work out around the clock thanks to plans to build a 24-hour gym in Cowley.

Pure Gym wants to turn two empty retail spaces at Templars Shopping Park into a health and fitness club, creating 20 jobs.

The plan comes three months after plans to open a Hungry Horse restaurant at the Between Towns Road centre were rejected by Oxford City Council.

Cowley city councillor David Henwood said: “The residents in the Cowley area might benefit from a gym on this site. It would be welcomed by many. Cowley is going from strength to strength. It looks like there is a growth there that will support the residents of Oxford.”

Plans include a free weights area, gym and a studio, of about 1,500 sq ft, on the ground floor.

A mezzanine floor would have a second gym, a spin area of 1,000 sq ft, 60 male lockers, 40 female lockers and changing rooms.

The gym, which would be next to Costa Coffee, would have a new entrance to the 760sq m site.

Pure Gym, which has 93 gyms in the UK and is currently developing seven more, plans more than 220 cardiovascular and fitness machines and will offer people 80 free classes a week.

Residents, who pay a £25 joining fee and a £19 monthly fee, will access the club using a unique pin number.

Mr Henwood said residents had raised concerns about “booming music” at the club at all hours.

But surveyors Montagu Evans said Pure Gym has not received any reports from local authorities about noise and nuisance complaints related to its gyms. They added: “Pure Gym is a low cost, high value operator. We consider there is sufficient parking to serve the development.”