New Sainsbury’s and gym coming to old Audi dealership

The former Audi dealership in Gee Cross will be converted into a Sainsbury’s and a PureGym. Audi Approved Hyde closed down in March last year and has been sitting empty ever since.

Now the Stockport Road site will become home to a supermarket and a gym open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The vacant dealership will be split into two parts, the Sainsbury’s on the western side and the PureGym on the east. 

Plans also include a 72-space car park with EV charging points, a carwash bay and delivery/collection lockers.

The proposal was formally approved by Tameside council’s planning panel this morning (February 11). Coun Doreen Dickinson described this as an ‘excellent scheme’, but shared concerns over the gym operating around the clock. 

The panel, sitting in Droylsden’s Guardsman Tony Downes House, was assured that measures are in place to restrict loud music and prevent fitness classes during the latter part of the evening and overnight. The developers, Dransfield Properties Ltd, have estimated that this plan would create up to 40 jobs – doubling the number of jobs provided by the dealership. 

Citing the fact that HGVs were constantly present under the building’s previous use, planning agent Rob Barnes said: “Our proposal will be a better neighbour than this.

“A new shop and gym here will be of real benefit to the local people. And this site is in the heart of the major housing developments in the local plan.”

The agent, acting on behalf of Dransfield Properties Ltd, explained that Gee Cross is due to have hundreds more houses built in the near future. He said how this development was a sustainable use of a vacant building that would benefit residents new and old.

Site layout of the planned new supermarket and gym coming to Gee Cross, Hyde. Credit: Dransfield Properties Ltd