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By Ian McConnell

Car retailing giant Arnold Clark is moving its Harry Fairbairn branch at Fenwick Road in Giffnock on the south side of Glasgow, and a planning application for a gym has been submitted for this site.

The planning application, for a change of use of the site at 167 Fenwick Road from “vehicle sales and repair” to “class 11 (gymnasium) together with external alterations” has been submitted to East Renfrewshire Council.

It appears in the council’s latest weekly list of planning applications, covering those registered between October 1 and 7.

The Fenwick Road site has long been home to car dealership operations, and has been expanded over the decades.

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Asked about the PureGym application for 167 Fenwick Road, Arnold Clark said it planned to transfer the Harry Fairbairn branch at Giffnock to its new site at Hillington Park on the outskirts of Glasgow, which is due to open in late 2022.

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A spokesman for Arnold Clark said: "We can confirm that this Harry Fairbairn branch will be moving from Giffnock in the near future. Our employees have been informed and they will be transferred to our larger, purpose-built building being constructed at Hillington Park.

“This will offer our customers an even better car-buying experience, as the new facility will house a 5,600 square-metre, two-storey branch with room for 45 new vehicles inside and a further 150 approved used vehicles outside.”

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Arnold Clark announced in March last year that it planned to build a new showroom close to its flagship Renault/Dacia/Alpine branch and head office at Hillington Park.

It said then that the new site, just off the M8 motorway, would operate under the Harry Fairbairn name, selling BMW and MINI cars, and would also feature a workshop, as well as on-site “smart repair” and valet facilities.