A martial arts club forced to relocate by the building of a Porsche garage in Preston looks like it has found a new home.
Nippon UK had been based at Watery Lane but the dojo shut up shop after Bowker Limited announced the site was being redeveloped.
A temporary home at Preston’s College was found but now the sensei and his pupils are eyeing up a permanent home off Fylde Road.
Offices currently used by the NHS are due to become empty in September within the Fylde Road Industrial Estate.
The Bridge’s offices would be reconfigured to remove many of the internal stud walls to create the dojo.
Nippon coach nearly 300 children and around 40 adults on weekday evening classes and on Saturday mornings.
Running since 1993 the firm has become one of the largest family-run martial arts organisations in the UK with 11 staff employed and 25 volunteers. They operate 10 dojos across Lancashire.
A statement from the company said: “The premises will secure the long term future of the Preston Dojo, which is a well-respected, socially inclusive community facility in the city, serving many of its residents. Indeed it is considered to be a community facility which the city cannot afford to lose.”
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The proposals include keeping the 22-space car park for use by the dojo – and there is on-street parking in Fylde Road.
The full plans can be seen on the Preston City Council website and any comments left there.
Do you train at Nippon UK? What do you think about the proposals? Let us know in the comments below