Permanent planning permission bid works out for Twerton gym

A Bath gym has been given the thumbs-up to continue operating after its temporary planning permission ran out.

CrossFit Bath has been based since May 2021 at a unit at The Smallholdings in Twerton.

The gym had previously been in temporary accommodation at Bath City FC at Twerton Park, moving there in 2018 after eight years at Wansdyke Business Centre in Oldfield Park.

CrossFit had been asked to leave the business centre, along with others based there, because of redevelopment plans.

With just a short-term lease on the building at The Smallholdings, planning permission was granted by Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2022 for the change of use from a scaffolding business to a gym for a temporary period of 18 months.

The lease was then extended and CrossFit told the council that if full planning permission was not granted, it would lead to the loss of the facility which would have a “devastating” effect.

There were comments of support about how the gym enhances the community and that a dedicated car park ensures minimal disruption to local residents.

A small number of concerns were raised including from local councillor Jess David (Lib Dem, Moorlands) about vehicles using a public footpath to access the site,

Planning officers agreed to a restrictive condition requested by Councillor David that vehicular access to the site is solely from The Smallholdings private road accessed from Coronation Avenue to maintain the safety of pedestrians and cyclists using the public footpath leading from Monksdale Road to the private road.

Other conditions include adding 20 bike spaces.

Council planning officers said the gym use improves highway safety compared with this previous use by a scaffold business, which, in the absence of a permanent consent for the gym use, could lawfully be reintroduced.