Property consultancies target gym operator for Middlesbrough’s Dundas Shopping Centre

Teesside property consultancy Dodds Brown and Newcastle’s @Retail have been tasked with securing an occupier for 12,000 of sq ft of commercial space in the centre of Middlesbrough.

The unit, geared towards a leisure, retail or gym operator, is located on the first floor of Dundas Shopping Centre.

The space, formerly occupied by the Potter Club above Dundas Indoor Market, has planning consent in place for a gym and other leisure-focused uses, such as bowling, a sports bar, events space or craft centre.

According to Dodds Brown and @Retail, a further 2,800 sq ft of roof terrace space is available.

Dundas Shopping Centre’s owner, Contract Experts Limited, has developed plans to create a new ground-level entrance for the unit on Wilson Street. It will also install a lift to link it with the facility’s 178-space basement car park.

Richard Wilson, joint letting agent and senior associate partner at Dodds Brown, said: “We’d prefer a gym operator to take this space for a public gym as there is a shortage of town centre provision, as the Middlesbrough Council’s LiveWell Centre gym in Dundas House is not open to the general public.

“However, there are many possible uses for this space and with Middlesbrough ranked the second fastest growing city consumer economy in the UK, and first in the North East, in the recent Irwin Mitchell Consumer Powerhouse report, compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, we feel sure that we will generate strong interest.”

Ian Thurlbeck, of @Retail, commented: “Its central location and convenient on-site parking, makes this space ideally accessible for both town centre workers and visitors alike, at all times of the day.

“Middlesbrough Council’s plans for Albert Road and for the transformation of the train station will also attract more people to this part of the town.”

He added: “Dundas Shopping Centre and Indoor Market is already a vibrant retail location which achieved a record number of visitors in 2017.”