A disused Toys R Us in south Reading will become a huge gym.

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee backed the plan on Wednesday (November 13) without comment.

The application was due to go before the committee in October but the plan was delayed as the developer asked for more time.

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The gym will be operated by UFC Gym - an extension of of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world's largest mixed martial arts company.

UFC gym will offer "a full range of group fitness classes, private MMA training, personal and group dynamic training, and MMA-style youth programming".

The site at Proctor End South is part of the Reading Gateway retail park which currently includes Burger King, Beefeater and Premier Inn, with Nando’s set to join.

Developer Aberdeen Standard Investments already had planning permission for retail shops at the site but has now got this changed to allow for a gym and mezzanine floor.

The main gym area will be on the ground floor alongside studio spaces, offices and a small cafe.

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Changing rooms and further training areas will be located on the mezzanine, which would look over the ground floor area.

ASI say the gym will create around 55 jobs.

The vacant site was most recently a Toys R Us before it closed in April 2018, after the chain went into administration.

The branch only opened in December 2017.