Anytime Fitness - Leamington Spa

Located in the heart of Leamington Spa, this Anytime Fitness project involved the transformation of a challenging yet highly desirable site with a ground floor entrance leading to a basement-level gym. The franchisee, although experienced in construction, chose to partner with Concepts Group to deliver a full turnkey solution. The site’s prominent position on Royal Parade, a designated conservation area, introduced additional difficulties. Planning, approvals, and design all had to be approached with care and creativity to respect the architectural integrity of the building while delivering a modern, fully functional gym environment.

The Challenge

One of the most significant challenges arose from the site’s conservation area status. The building was subject to strict restrictions that prohibited any mechanical equipment from being mounted on or penetrating the external façade of Royal Parade. This ruled out conventional HVAC approaches, making a pre-lease mechanical design essential for gaining landlord approval before construction could begin. Beyond planning constraints, the physical layout of the building added another layer of complexity. Delivering a basement gym with no direct exterior access required careful coordination of AC systems, structural adaptations, and accessibility solutions.

The Solution

Concepts Group worked closely with the franchisee and the landlord to develop a bespoke mechanical strategy that met all compliance and operational requirements while remaining invisible from the street. The final design placed the air conditioning condensers on the roof, five storeys above the gym floor. To connect these to the basement, we broke through the roof and routed pipework and ventilation ducts through the building’s existing riser system, an approach that met planning restrictions while maintaining performance.

The franchisee appointed their own contractor to install new drainage systems in the basement. Following this, Concepts Group undertook the complete internal fit-out of the site. Key elements included the design and installation of a bespoke staircase to connect the entrance and gym levels, as well as fitting of a DDA-compliant platform lift and enclosure, ensuring full accessibility for all users.

Despite the structural and regulatory challenges, the Leamington Spa site was completed on time and to a high standard, delivering a seamless blend of heritage-sensitive design and modern gym functionality. This project showcases Concepts Group’s ability to manage complex builds in conservation areas and highlights our commitment to supporting franchisees with innovative, fully compliant turnkey solutions.

“I’d like to put on record my thanks to Colin and his staff at Concept Group. They recently completed 5500 square feet fit out of a core and shell unit for us, converting it into an Anytime Fitness Franchise. From start to finish they have been excellent. Every aspect of the job went as planned … on time, on budget, high standard of finish, efficient operation of the site, courteous staff, and site cleanliness. I would highly recommend the company and would be happy to use them in the future.”

John Blaney | Anytime Fitness - Franchisee