What could be Macclesfield's longest-running sports club are hoping to implement some big changes.

This is according to a change of use planning application on the Cheshire East Council website.

Macclesfield Rugby Club wants to transform the "existing car parking and storage area to accommodate prefabricated shipping containers for a health and fitness gym with associated infrastructure and ancillary facilities."

The new black metal container will cut the number of parking spaces from 200 to 180.

The club has existed since Victorian times. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

The proposed gym would provide "a range of fitness training facilities at a conveinent planning location directly adjacent to Macclesfield's existing clubhouse, and overlooking the open playing fields to the north."

Macclesfield Rugby Club was founded in 1874. They have 480 junior members and 350 seniors, which span age groups and genders.

A planning document states "Macclesfield RFC generally has found that they have a decreasing senior membership set against the ever-increasing overheads for running their facilities. The Club allow all members of the local community to use their facilities for a wide range of different sports and make their playing pitches and facilities for use by all of the surrounding schools in Macclesfield.

"The proposed facility is seen as an important additional facility, to improve their players and membership's fitness and performance on the field as well as offering an additional income stream that will increase the use of their complementary facilities at their existing club house."

There could be a new place to work out in Macclesfield, at the expense of 20 parking spaces.

Personal trainers, nutritionists and coaches will also benefit from the new proposals. The could-be gym wants to have hours of operation from 6:30am to 8:30pm on Monday to Thursday, until 7pm on Friday and 7am to 2pm Saturday to Sunday.

The propsoed gym will target a membership of 200 customers.

The full plans can be read HERE. Macclesfield residents have until August 9 to have their say, with a final decision coming after September 7.

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