Virgin Active is to spend R1.2-billion to refurbish gyms and open up to 40 new clubs in the next five years, Business Day reported on Thursday.

"The company, which was launched in SA in 2001 and has 84 clubs, said the expansion would increase its membership of about 500 000 by 50 percent within three years," the report read.

Health club rival Planet Fitness recently unveiled plans to open a R100m gym in Sandton and planned to spend as much as R500m on a countrywide expansion over five years.

Both Virgin and Planet Fitness were expanding to tap the growing market for health clubs as more people adopted a healthier lifestyle, Business Day reported.

Virgin MD Mark Field said R750m of the total expansion budget had been put aside for an overhaul of existing clubs in the next three years, including the supply of ultramodern equipment. The balance would be spent on building 40 new clubs.

Sapa