Gymnasium at 13 Ashgrove Workshops, Kilwinning

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought to change an industrial unit from light industrial use to a gymnasium.

“Change of use of industrial unit to gymnasium (Class 11) (retrospective) ___________________________________________________________________”

“Planning permission is sought for the change of use a light industrial unit (Class 4) to a gymnasium (Class 11 - Assembly and Leisure) at Unit 13 Ashgrove Workshops. The application has been made retrospectively to regularise the planning status of the unit following receipt of a complaint.”

Officer report

The site

The gym occupies a corner unit in a single-storey workshop building, accessed through communal parking from Ashgrove Road and McLuckie Drive.

“The gym occupies Unit 13, which is a corner unit in a single storey workshop building. Unit 13 has a footprint of approx. 110sqm. The back of the unit faces towards James Clements Close. Although there are no dwellings directly behind the building and there is a 1.8m high fence along the edge of the pavement, the fronts of 1 - 7 James Clements Close face Agenda Item 4 17”

“Access to the gym is from the communal car parking area within the Ashgrove Workshops via Ashgrove Road/McLuckie Drive. There is no access from James Clements Close.”

Officer report

Why permission was needed

The gym opened without planning permission, and a noise complaint in March 2026 led to the retrospective application.

“Ashgrove Workshops are located between Ashgrove Road and Kilwinning Station. The workshops were built during the 1980s and provide small units for business purposes. A gym opened at Unit 13 without the benefit of planning permission. There is no permitted change between Class 4 and Class 11 and planning permission was therefore required.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Transport officers raised no objections, Environmental Health raised no objection subject to a noise condition, and the community council objected over business space and gym capacity.

“NAC Environmental Health - No objections subject to the condition that the rated noise level, as defined in BS4142:2014+A1:2019, from the operation of the gym must not exceed the background noise level by 5dB(A) or more at the curtilage of any noise sensitive property. If the applicant is in any doubt as to whether the above condition can be achieved then a Noise Impact Assessment should be undertaken by a competent person i.e.”

“Kilwinning Community Council - object to the application. Kilwinning suffers from a shortage of suitable space for small commercial businesses looking to start up or expand. A number of businesses have already had to leave the town to find suitable premises and this change of use would reduce further capacity.”

Officer report

Who took part

No deputation requests were received, and officers answered members’ questions about the application.

The committee vote

The committee unanimously agreed to approve planning permission with no conditions.

“Officers responded to Members’ questions on various aspects of the report and the Committee unanimously agreed to approve planning permission with no conditions.”

Minutes