Winchester planners approve Winnall PureGym application

PureGym applied for permission to convert Unit 3, formerly Currys, of the Moorside Retail Park, in Moorside Road, Winnall, into a new 24-hour gym.

The application called for a change of use for the site, from Class E/retail use. However, conditions are in place to revert the unit back to Class E if it is no longer needed as a gym.

Winchester City Council’s planning committee voted to permit the application on Wednesday, November 13.

Unit 3 in Winnall (Image: Chris Atkinson) READ MORE: Council approves purchase of 146 new homes on city estate for undisclosed sum

Peter Evans, one of the owners of Energy Fitness, which has a gym in the Brooks Centre, objected to the application, warning it would give the High Street “a slow painful death”.

He told the committee: “Let’s be clear, this whole application, and the rejection of other suitably sized and laid out properties in the city centre, have been dismissed because of the lack of free parking. There are units available in the city centre, but (the applicants) don’t want to consider them because of no free parking. It has nothing to do with fit-out costs or ceiling heights. By changing the planning laws for PureGym and enabling them to offer a site with free parking on the edge of town location, the city centre will be given a death sentence. You are giving all our tenants an opportunity to relocate from both the High Street and Brooks Shopping Centre, giving our city a slow, painful death, at a time when it needs protecting and rejuvenating.

“Having fitness and leisure facilities in the city brings people into the commercial hub on a more regular basis. Should this planning application be approved, not only will gyms be massively hit by the disadvantage of free parking for PureGym, so will the local businesses and lost footfall.”

Jonathan Wadcock, the agent for the application, said: “This application has been under consideration for 12 months and we have had detailed discussions with officers who are satisfied that the impact tests have been met. The applicant has considered a range of alternative sites, but none have been suitable due to multiple factors, including size, layout, ceiling height, and adjoining noise-sensitive uses.

“The budget fitness sector is growing and the council’s own retail and town centre study identifies strong future growth in retail spending in Winchester. However, almost 40 per cent of residents spending on health and fitness is currently going to facilities outside of the district. The study has also identified a noticeable lack of budget gym provision within Winchester, with existing gyms oversubscribed and strong but unsatisfied market demand from large gym operators.”

Mr Wadcock continued, saying that if the application was approved it would “bring a prominent unit back into use, create job opportunities, and provide a complimentary facility for those who work in Winnall”.

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Cllr Jonathan Williams said: “I do have concerns in regards to vehicle movement into this site. It is very large. There will be more vehicle use then in regards to the previous store, more frequent visits. I do welcome the condition which states there should be cycle provision in regards to the site, and I do have concerns about the marketing of the site, but I think that’s been well answered. So, I’m minded to support this application.”

Cllr Paula Langford-Smith said: “I’m not a person who uses the gym on a regular basis. However, I am aware that people will drive past gyms if they do not offer the facilities that they want to use. So, it depends on the facilities that a gym is offering.

“So, I think it depends entirely on what people are looking for. I don’t think it is necessarily down to location. I don’t see problem with supporting a gym in this location. I think it is a good use of a vacant unit.”

The cabinet voted to approve the application.