Private training gym at Glazier, 55 Regent Street, Greenock

“Planning permission is sought to change the use of the premises from a shop under Class 1A to a private gym (Class 11), operating as a small group/personal training facility. No external alterations to the building are proposed. Customers and staff would access the property from Regent Street.”

“The Supporting Statement indicates that the proposed business is to operate as a personal training studio and not as a public gym, with appointment only sessions. Training sessions will comprise 1-to-1 and 2-to-1 personal training and small group personal training with a maximum of 5 clients at any one time. It is proposed to operate between 08:00 and 20:00 during weekdays and between 10:00 and 14:00 during weekends.”

“The application site comprises a single storey, retail unit located on the south side of Regent Street, Greenock. The building is finished with a flat grey roof, a white painted roughcast wall on the principal elevation, a buff-coloured brick rear elevation wall, buff-coloured render to the side, and cast-iron downpipes painted in a light blue finish.”

“The site is terraced, adjoining a single storey bookmakers to the west and a three-storey building to the east containing residential flats. The flats are separated from the application site by a red brick retaining wall, which is around 1m thick. The site sits on a north-west facing slope and adjoins a car park for neighbouring residential flats to the rear which is around 1.5m above the ground floor of the site.”

“In assessing the impact on the vibrancy, vitality and viability of nearby established town and local centres, both the existing and proposed uses are directed to the network of centres under Policy 22 of the adopted LDP and Policy 23 of the proposed LDP.”

“The site makes use of an existing building within the urban area which is accessible to public transport which would contribute to the sustainability of the development and would be appropriate for encouraging local living, as required in NPF4, Policy 15, and will provide a positive benefit for the local community, meeting the ‘Sustainable’ quality in Policy 14 of NPF4.”

“The application was the subject of neighbour notification. Seven objections were received and the grounds for objection are summarised as follows:”

“Premises is next to a bookmakers that attracts a largely male crowd, with people standing outside that could make gym users feel uncomfortable or unsafe. • Proximity of the use to a main road. • Increased road congestion. • Road user safety. • Parking availability. • Opening hours outside conventional daytime hours. • Increased footfall, noise and activity. • Proximity to similar uses and impacts on similar businesses nearby.”

“Decided: that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:- 1. that the development hereby permitted must be begun within 3 years from the date of this permission, to comply with Section 58 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended);”