PLANS to demolish a former Quarry Bank health club once featured regularly on TV and replace it with a brand new gym plus 26 new homes is to go before Dudley's planners on Thursday June 25.

A planning application submitted to Dudley Council proposes bulldozing the old gym in Thorns Road, which most recently was operated by Fitness4Less, and replace it with a brand new facility and 26 new homes with access, parking and landscaping.

Formerly known as Helios Heath Spa, the venue used to double as the motel gym in the TV soap opera Crossroads.

Today, however, it stands empty and overgrown and Dudley planners have recommended approval of the plan to build a new gym with a swimming pool plus 16 townhouses and 10 apartments on the site.

A report to Dudley's development control committee states: "Sixteen of the dwellings would consist of a mixture of three and four bedroom town houses with accommodation within the roof space. Access to these dwellings would be from an existing cul-de-sac stub off Grosvenor Way.

"The replacement gymnasium building, which would be of significantly less floor space than the existing, would be located on the eastern side of the site with access from Thorns Road.

"The building would have accommodation on three floors, with the first two floors accommodating the gymnasium and the top floor being laid out as 10 apartments. The building would be roughly rectangular in shape, with car parking provided in part to the ground floor level to the rear, with the building extending above."

Contemporary in design, the new gym would include a swimming pool, changing areas, offices, studios, plant room and open plan gymnasium area - and both the gym and apartment building would share a car park.

A vacant house to the north of the main building would also be demolished as part of the scheme.

A number of objections, including a letter on behalf of all residents in Grosvenor Way, were submitted initially after a consultation with neighbours who voiced worries the development would cause parking problems, generate increased traffic. Concerns about a lack of parking for the gym were also raised.

Following the submission of a revised plan, however, "no further objections were received" - the report says.

West Midlands Police did raise concerns the site might lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour and crime and that motorbikes may cut through.

The development is, however, has been recommended for approval and the report to the committee says the plan is now considered "appropriate from a design, density, amenity and highway safety point of view" following the refusal of a similar scheme in 2018 under delegated powers.

A decision will be made at Dudley's development control committee meeting which will be held online from 6pm on Thursday June 25.