Altrincham office building set for £800,000 gym plans 2026

Key Points

• Property developer Bruntwood has applied for planning permission for a £800,000 gym and wellbeing centre at Station House in Altrincham town centre.
• The plans involve creating a 1,200 sq ft commercial health club by converting part of the undercroft on the ground floor of the building.
• The proposals will include a premium fitness suite, five showers, one accessible shower, lockers, drying cupboards, towel drop and vanity areas.
• The vanity areas will have hairdryers and straighteners.
• Landscape improvements are proposed for the front and rear entrances to create a pleasant entrance experience for users.
• The proposal has been submitted to Trafford Council for review.
• Station House was constructed in 1966 and is currently celebrating its 60th year.
• Over 50 businesses are located at the building and include Civica, Zelus Sport, Rise Fibre and London Care.
• Bruntwood Places has recently refurbished the first and sixth floors of the building.
• The sixth floor is now fully occupied and the first floor comprises six conventional and eight serviced offices.
• Sharon Johnson, Head of Commercial at Bruntwood, said that the proposals are in response to growing expectations regarding wellbeing and workplace flexibility.

Altrincham (Manchester Mirror) October 14, 2026 – Property company Bruntwood has submitted a planning application for a £800,000 gym and wellbeing facility at Station House, an office building in Altrincham town centre.

As reported by Altrincham Today, the proposals would transform part of the existing ground-floor undercroft at Station House into a 1,200 sq ft fitness space. The building sits next to Altrincham Interchange, one of the town’s principal transport hubs.

If Trafford Council approves the application, the investment would create a high-specification gym alongside new showering, changing and wellbeing facilities. According to Altrincham Today, the facilities are intended to make it easier for people working at Station House to exercise or cycle to work.

The planning application has now been submitted to Trafford Council, which will consider the proposals.

What facilities would the £800,000 investment include?

The proposed gym and wellbeing area would include five showers, one of which would be accessible. The plans also provide for lockers, a drying cupboard and a towel drop.

As reported by Altrincham Today, vanity areas would be equipped with hairdryers and straighteners. These facilities would sit alongside the new fitness space and changing provision.

The proposals also include landscaping improvements at the front and rear of Station House. Bruntwood says these works would provide a more welcoming entrance for workers and visitors.

The facilities would be intended primarily for businesses based at Station House. The application does not, according to the reporting, describe the gym as a standalone public leisure facility.

Why is Bruntwood investing in wellbeing facilities?

Sharon Johnson, Head of Commercial at Bruntwood, said the company believes modern workspaces need to provide more than a desk.

As reported by Altrincham Today, Ms Johnson said:

“We know the best workspaces need to offer much more than a desk. People increasingly want their working environment to support their wellbeing, give them flexibility in how they spend their day and make it easier to balance work with the things that matter outside it.”

She added:

“Our plans for Station House are about responding to those changing expectations, by investing in high-quality fitness and wellbeing facilities alongside flexible offices and shared spaces to meet and connect.”

Ms Johnson also described Station House’s location as significant. She said its position in “one of the North West’s most dynamic and sought-after town centres” made it a destination for businesses looking to grow, while bringing people into Altrincham to be part of its local community.

How does the proposal fit into wider Station House investment?

The gym proposal represents the latest stage in Bruntwood Places’ ongoing investment in Station House. The building is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, having been part of Altrincham’s townscape since 1966.

As reported by Altrincham Today, Station House is now home to more than 50 businesses. These include Civica, Zelus Sport, Rise Fibre and London Care.

Bruntwood Places has recently completed major refurbishments of the building’s first and sixth floors. The sixth floor includes nine serviced offices, four conventional workspaces, two meeting rooms and private phone booths, and is now fully let.

The newly refurbished first floor provides a further six conventional and eight serviced office suites, along with three phone booths.

Station House offers a range of workspace options, from pay-as-you-go coworking desks to fully managed private offices. Its existing facilities include a communal lounge, meeting rooms, bike storage and 24-hour access.

The building’s reception, lift lobbies and toilets have also been upgraded as part of the wider programme of improvements.

What happens next with the planning application?

The planning application has been submitted to Trafford Council for consideration. No decision has been reported at this stage.

If approved, Bruntwood would be able to proceed with the £800,000 conversion of part of the ground-floor undercroft into the proposed gym and wellbeing facilities.

The application forms part of a broader pattern of investment by Bruntwood in Altrincham. The company is also involved in the ongoing regeneration of the Stamford Quarter in partnership with Trafford Council.

As reported by Altrincham Today, the proposed gym would add to the workplace offer at Station House, which already includes flexible offices, coworking space, meeting rooms and bike storage.

Background of the development

Station House is located on Stamford New Road in Altrincham, directly opposite Altrincham Interchange and the town’s train station. Bruntwood describes it as a landmark workspace in the heart of the town, offering private offices, coworking and meeting rooms.

The building has stood in Altrincham since 1966 and is marking its 60th anniversary in 2026. It currently accommodates more than 50 businesses across a mix of conventional offices, serviced suites and coworking facilities.

Bruntwood Places has already completed refurbishment work on the first and sixth floors. The sixth floor is fully let, while the first floor has been reconfigured to provide additional conventional and serviced office accommodation.

The company has also upgraded the building’s reception, lift lobbies and toilets. The proposed £800,000 gym and wellbeing facility would extend that investment programme by repurposing part of the ground-floor undercroft.

Bruntwood’s wider presence in Altrincham includes its involvement in the Stamford Quarter regeneration, which it is delivering in partnership with Trafford Council. The company also operates Foundation, a nearby workspace scheme that includes a high-specification gym, changing areas, showers and cycle facilities.

Prediction: How could this affect Altrincham workers and businesses?

If approved, the development could make Station House more attractive to existing occupiers and prospective business tenants seeking workspace with on-site wellbeing provision.

For people working in the building, the proposed gym, showers, changing facilities and cycle-related amenities could make it more practical to exercise before work, during the day or after commuting by bicycle. The accessible shower and changing provision may also improve convenience for a broader range of users.

For businesses based at Station House, the facilities could become part of the building’s workplace offer alongside its offices, coworking space, meeting rooms and communal areas. The proposal reflects a wider trend among workspace providers of adding fitness and wellbeing amenities to office buildings.

For Altrincham town centre, the plans would represent further private investment in an established office building close to the transport interchange. The outcome will depend on Trafford Council’s consideration of the planning application, including any consultation responses and planning assessment.