24-hour gym operation at 23 - 29 Blagdon Road, New Malden

The site and its history

The gym occupies a ground-floor commercial unit in a mixed-use district centre, with earlier permissions including the 1999 change of use.

“The site relates to a commercial unit on the ground floor of a three-storey building at no. 23-29 Blagdon Road. The commercial unit is currently occupied by Fitness 4 Less and is adjoined by Lidl. The building is located within the New Malden District Centre, which comprises mixed-use development.”

“14/14453/PNO Change of Use of existing offices on first and second floors from Class B1 (Offices) to Class C3 (Residential dwellings) to provide 14no. one bedroom flats. Prior Approval Granted 10.07.2014 00/04140/REM Details of secure cycle parking pursuant to Condition 7 of 98/4151 Granted 04.08.2000 00/04005/REM Details of acoustic insulation of parts of the building pursuant to Conditions 3 and 6 of 98/4151 Granted 13.03.2000 99/04282/REM Details of air handling plant…”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The council’s traffic and environmental health officers raised no objections to the proposal.

“RBK Neighbourhood Traffic Engineer No objection RBK Environmental Health Officer No objection…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A call-in member and an adjacent ward councillor spoke about the application.

What members debated

Members considered amendments requiring an Operational Management Plan covering staffing, noise, security, emergencies, activities and parking arrangements.

“An Operational Management Plan for the development hereby approved shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval in writing. The Operational Management Plan shall be approved and implemented prior to the extended opening hours. The Operational Management Plan shall include details as to how the proposed development would be managed to avoid adverse impacts on sensitive neighbouring properties. Details on the following must be provided:”

“Visitor and staff numbers • Staffed hours • Measures to ensure no amplified sound exceeds noise levels that would adversely affect the nearest noise-sensitive properties before 6 am and after 10 pm Monday to Fridays and before 9 am and after 7 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays • Details of proposed classes and activities within the gym • Measures to secure the premises to prevent anti-social behaviour • Emergency response plan, including a review mechanism • …”

Minutes

The votes

The first amended approval motion was lost, but a later approval motion passed after a casting vote.

“Following some debate, a motion to approve the application as set out in the late material was amended to update condition (7) to include details of the emergency response plan, parking and staffed hours. Members voted on the substantive motion and it was lost.”

“*Councillor Lynn Henderson under Procedure Rule 4 (6) of Part 4A of the Council's Constitution exercised her casting vote to vote in favour of the application.”

Minutes

The decision

The application was approved subject to conditions, including consultation with the police designing-out-crime officer and committee chair on the management plan.

“After further debate a motion to approve the application, subject to further amendments to condition (7), namely that the Local Planning Authority would consult both the MET Police Designing out Crime Officer and the Chair of the New and Old Malden Planning Sub-Committee upon receipt of the Operational Management Plan was proposed and voted on and it was –”

Minutes