applicants vying to open up health clubs in the exact same spot in a city building.

But the DAB gave the owner of a nightclub in the back of town the go-ahead to expand and add a mini shopping arcade.

Health Fitness Associates and Mr. Mark Smith both applied to put gyms in Hemisphere House at 9 Church Street. However, the DAB refused their applications, made on October 7 and 8, on the grounds that the Church Street area was reserved for "high density office development''.

"The proposed use is not permitted in that part of District E (as set out in the City of Hamilton Plan 1984),'' the Board said.

The two applicants' only recourse is to appeal to the Environment Minister or consider an alternative location.

Meanwhile, the owner of Place's Place, which is out of the city centre on the corner of Dundonald and Court Streets, was given in-principle approval to extend the nightclub and add offices, a mini shopping arcade and five apartments.

The Board said conditions of final approval were: "Provision of a high-quality pedestrian environment, the use and design of paving materials and street furniture, the provision of landscaping and planting and the provision and design of pedestrian arcades and circulation space''.