Plans for sportswear tycoon Mike Ashley’s £5 million Sports Direct Fitness store and gym at Dundee’s Stack Leisure Park are expected to be considered by the city council next month.
The development is to mark a further stage of the revival of the Lochee landmark dominated by the historic Cox’s Stack.
If given the green light, the outlet will become the first in Scotland and is expected to bring 96 jobs to the city.
It is on the site of the former Venue nightclub, which has lain empty for more than 20 years.
Other features of the original Stack park included a Tesco supermarket, cinema, bingo hall, ten-pin bowling hall and bar.
Most of the businesses closed as Lochee went into decline, and the park struggled to attract new investment.
Three years ago the Stack park was bought by TJ Morris. A spokesman said in a short space of time they have turned the complex round with their investment in terms of visitors, appearance and economic activity.
The park has become a success story, they said, with the arrival of new Home Bargains (TJ Morris’s own retail brand), Aldi and The Range retailer joining the Gala bingo hall.
Improvements have also been made to the public realm, car parking and pedestrian routes linking the park with Lochee High Street.
The Sports Direct Fitness proposal would see a former nightclub converted with 30,000 sq ft of sports retail on the ground floor and a 30,000 sq ft gym on a mezzanine level.
A TJ Morris spokesman said: “This represents one of the final remaining pieces of the jigsaw to help us complete the Stack’s regeneration and integration with Lochee High Street.
“We urge the elected members to support these exciting plans for Lochee and Dundee.”