A CHESHIRE town centre gym could soon be transformed into a 'boutique-style' charity shop.

East Cheshire Hospice is currently negotiating to buy the Knutsford Gym premises in Malt Street, with a view to opening a charity shop in its place.

As part of its plans for the premises, the hospice has applied to Cheshire East Council for a certificate of lawful proposed use for the change from a gym to a retail shop.  

The building had been used as a shop prior to 2013, when it was converted into a gym.

If the purchase goes through and the change of use approved, the hospice is hoping to open the shop towards the end of the year.

Rachel Allcock, the income generation director at the East Cheshire Hospice, said: "It’s not a typical charity shop, it will be boutique-style, with the same look and feel as our store in Poynton.

“It will be more higher-end and selling furniture, which is really exciting as that is something a bit newer to Knutsford.

“We have been really keen to open in Knutsford as it would tie in with launch of our new service in the town – Hospice@Home.

“We are also hoping to establish ourselves more in the Knutsford community as people may not know we are their local hospice."

The proposed hours of the shop would be 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

The last date for submitting comments on the application is July 30, with the council looking at making a decision by August 30.

This application will be determined under delegated authority.

To view it, search reference 24/2464M on the council's online planning portal.