Former Wilko on Market Place Approved as a Gym and Shop

One of the biggest empty shop units in South Shields town centre has a future. South Tyneside Council has approved plans to convert the former Wilko store on Market Place into a gym, with a separate retail unit alongside it, as reported by the Shields Gazette.

The building has stood empty since the Wilko chain collapsed into administration in 2023, taking the South Shields branch with it.

What has been approved

The application came from High Point Estates Ltd. Under the plans, the ground floor will be divided to create gym space, with changing rooms, a staff office and a reception area, plus a separate shop unit to let. The scheme also adds a new mezzanine floor and converts part of the building into extra car parking.

The two uses will have different front doors. The shop will open onto Market Place, while the main gym entrance will be at first-floor level, reached from the back of the building via River Drive.

The scheme is expected to create 14 jobs: four full-time and ten part-time.

Why it matters

Council officers said the scheme would help bring one of the largest vacant commercial units in the town centre back into use, and would support investment and regeneration in the centre. A gym brings regular daytime and evening visits, which is good news for the cafés and shops around the square, already home to The Word and the market.

No gym operator has been named yet, and no opening date has been given. The permission requires work to start within three years.

Best for: Looking for somewhere to train in the meantime? Our guide to the best gyms in South Shields covers the options open now.

We will report back once an operator and opening date are confirmed.