A NEW health and leisure club is set to open in Rawtenstall after councillors gave plans the green light.

The Riverside Fitness Centre will open at the Hurstwood-owned former Groundwork offices at New Hall Hey.

The club will offer exercise classes and personal training sessions alongside top of the range Technogym equipment, which will be the official equipment used at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

An area of land behind the centre will also be used for fitness boot camp sessions.

Stewart Butler, owner of Riverside Fitness, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been given permission to press ahead and work is now underway to bring new life to the building.

“The health and fitness centre will bring something completely different to Rossendale and we can’t wait to get going.”

Before the official opening planned for early April, the building, which is owned by property company Hurstwood, will have an extension added to create new changing rooms.

Mr Butler said: “The health club will feature state of the art equipment and the whole place will have a very contemporary feel.

“There will be a kids zone and at the rear of the building we have two acres of land which we will use for special fitness boot camps.

“It will offer a unique user experience, which is unrivalled in the area, combining lifestyle, health, dietary and social fitness, within a specialised and luxurious environment.

"We really believe it will be good for Rossendale.”

Potential members can take a virtual tour of the club thanks to its website and the first 100 people to register as a member will receive a set membership price for life.

More information from 01706 225061 or the website below.