Plans for 24-hour gym in Spalding approved

Fitness enthusiasts will be able to work out round the clock after plans to open a 24-hour gym have been approved.

An application by Switha Ltd to transform Spalding’s current Carpertright store has been approved by South Holland District Council – despite a mixed response from the public.

One written response stated the plan would ‘do wonders for the gym culture in the town’.

“Many gyms feel elitist and prevent people from going, especially the people who need it the most,” they wrote.

“Having 24-hours space that has adequate facilities, easily accessible, walkabout for most of Spalding and within a nurturing atmosphere will hopefully change the gym culture in our town for the better.”

However, letters objecting to the plans feared ‘too much noise for residents’, worrying ‘music will be played through the night’ – as well as the potential for a knock-on effect for established businesses.

“Having another will have a detrimental affect on the gyms currently in Spalding,” one objection wrote.

Another stated this would ‘impact’ the council’s Castle Complex which is currently undergoing a £20 million makeover thanks to Government levelling up money.

They also raised concerns about parking at the Westlode Street site, which shares a car park with the adjacent B&M Bargains store.

One letter argued ‘it's already packed at weekends with B&M shoppers’ while another suggested parking will be over populated, taking money away from B&M’.

Addressing these concerns, the planning officer’s report stated: “The planning system cannot interfere with market competition, and in this case, the gym is in an edge of centre location and therefore is an appropriate use in any case.

“Parking is also cited as a concern, and that the car park is full of B&M Shoppers.

“When the use is no longer in operation B&M will not attract customers and therefore the car parking situation will change.

“Spreading the car parking over a 24-hour period for a gym will change the parking patterns - meaning off peak use will flatten the pattern of car parking over a longer period.”

It added that ‘noise from the gym is controllable via other legislation rather than planning, but in any event it is not considered that a gym would be particularly noisy from the outside of the building’.

Switha Ltd’s application for a ‘certificate to confirm a lawful proposed use of unit 2 as a gym with unrestricted trading hours’ was approved by SHDC planners.