Nuneaton's gyratory system to be removed as part of nightclub demolition plan

[dutchman]

The building, which currently plays home to the Empire Gym, has been on Leicester Road for more than 100 years



Nuneaton's gyratory system is to be removed as part of nightclub demolition plans. Warwickshire County Council has finally unveiled its plans for the Leicester Road Gyratory System - and it includes removing it completely.

In its place will be a new four-arm roundabout. As part of these plans, the current home of Empire Gym, which was the old Liquid and Envy nightclub on Leicester Road will be demolished.

It was back in December when Warwickshire County Council submitted a planning application, which appeared in the weekly list of online applications made to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.

The proposal has been on the cards for a number of years but bizarrely the application appeared - with no detail. Now, more than a month after, all of the plans, in full detail, are now available online.

They give a glimpse into the proposals which will see the building demolished to enable a fourth arm to be added to the current three arm roundabout. The highways plans include changing the New traffic management system at the junction of Regent Street and Bond Street to a small roundabout.

Also changes to the lay-out of Dunelm after initial plans to demolish its current home were scrapped. The full plans are:

• Removal of A444/Leicester Road/Back Street/Bond Street/ Regent Street gyratory and approximately 420 metres of one-way system.
  
• It will be replaced by a four arm roundabout with toucan crossings on the Leicester Road arm, Vicarage Street and Regent Street approaches along with the realignment of Regent Street which will provide improved cyclist and pedestrian facilities.
  
• New traffic management system at the junction of Regent Street and Bond Street comprising of a small roundabout to provide more vehicular access and exit to Nuneaton Train Station.
  
• Bond Street north to become two-way road with a turning head.
  
• Back Street to become a two-way road with a turning head. Vehicle access from A444 Leicester Road to south.
  
• Existing signalised junction at Back Street and Bond Street to be amended with vehicle turning movements restricted to give priority to buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
  
• Reconfigured Dunelm car park and delivery area.

The Empire Gym is not a Listed building but is regarded as a heritage asset. The document states that Historic England received an application to consider the former Empire Music Hall for a Certificate of Immunity (COI), which guarantees that a building will not be statutorily listed. Historic England said that it was originally opened as The Empire Skating Rink in 1909 having been designed by by local architect George Ward, who was part of the Birmingham-based firm Owen & Ward who also designed Nuneaton’s Hippodrome Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre in Walsall.

Over the years the now gym building has seen many changes, both to what it has played home to as well as changes to its inside as well as façade.

"After examining all the records and other relevant information and having carefully considered the architectural and historic interest of this case, the criteria for listing are not fulfilled," the report states.

"The former Empire MusicHall is not recommended for listing and a COI should therefore be issued."

What is not known is where the current Empire Gym will be relocated to when the demolition takes place. This is something that Nuneaton and Bedworth Leisure Trust (NBLT) charity, which transformed the old Liquid and Envy nightclub into a fitness centre, previously said caused 'deep concern'.

As part of the plans finally being published online, it means that locals can have their say before a final decision is made. All of the plans can be viewed on the county council's website online here.

[dutchman]

Gym hopes to find new site as it faces demolition



An organisation that runs a gym in Nuneaton has said it is confident of finding a new venue in the town despite its current building being earmarked for demolition.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Leisure Trust (NBLT) has used the building on Leicester Street as its Empire Gym since 2014, but due to a new road layout, external it will be knocked down to make way for a new traffic island.

Finance Director Neil Jarrett said the charity already had plans to identify a new location.

He said: "The council have put through the planning application and it's still in process, but expected to be approved in spring 2026. So hopefully at that point we'll have clarity and start looking for a new venue."

The building dates back to 1909 and was originally opened as The Empire Hall and Roller Skating Rink, and was converted into a theatre a year later.

By 1914 it had become a cinema and later was turned into a warehouse.

It closed for industrial use in the 1970s, before becoming Raffles Nightclub, with part of the building in use as Madison Snooker Club.

It then became Madison's nightclub before it changed names to Liberty's and also traded under the names of Millennium, Liquid & Envy.