Planners rejected a gym’s plans for a privacy screen and ventilation grilles in a former church building in Hove.
Natural Fit Gym submitted two planning applications for its premises – at St Agnes Church, in Newtown Road, Hove.
But councillors were concerned to learn that one of the applications was retrospective – for work that had already been carried out.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee turned down both applications at a meeting at Hove Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday 6 September).
The two applications were for an outdoor area on the second floor. The first was for obscured “privacy screens”.
The second was the retrospective application – to fit high-level ventilation grilles to the gable ends, a handrail to the parapet wall of the roof and outside lights on the second floor on the south side of the building.
Councillors were concerned about people going outside on to the second-floor balcony through a door which was the subject of a previously withdrawn planning application.
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Mark Earthey asked whether the terrace was “unauthorised”. Officers said that the doorway to the terrace was unauthorised and granting permission would “regularise” the work.
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said that the application for plastic screens and grilles was unusual, adding: “This is a particularly lovely church. I don’t think there should be such treatment on a church like this.”
Other councillors said that the building had been “deconsecrated” 40 years ago.
Labour councillor Liz Loughran, who chairs the Planning Committee, said: “I feel uncomfortable that this applicant has created this unauthorised doorway and still hasn’t got permission.
“By permitting the screens, we are encouraging those people who use the site to go out on the terrace, in effect. Those two things, to me, are not logical in planning terms.”
Councillor Loughran said that the privacy screen proposal was contrary to council planning policies on design and the activities that would take place on the terrace would “harm the amenity” of the area.
The application for the grilles was also refused. Councillors said that it was linked with the other application because it included the requirement for access through the unauthorised door.
I complain directly to the owner when they installed plastic, yes plastic bushes on that level. They used a boom lift to lift them. When I returned I found the road and pavement littered with plastic branches that had fallen off during the installation process.
I am discusted that they did not have the decency to sweep up after themselves. These plastic branches would have ended up in the sea via surface run off. This was irresponsible and an act of corporate environmental damage. I took the initiative to pick up all the plastic branches by hand. And they call themselves Natural Fit!
Peter Rayner co-owner said the decision to use plastic bushes was a board level design one. I assume they thought it was a good idea.
I have learnt that the joining fee is £300 gate keeping fee to keep the riff raff out, does admin really cost that much? no it’s doesn’t and the monthly membership is £200. This is a rich persons getto.
Why they could not afford real bushes and employ a gardener? Rayner also stated that it would be costly to have real plants due to the water costs… this facility is running a pool and spa facilities which use lots of water, watering some bushes would be a minor addition. And have they not heard of rain? Rain “the condensed moisture of the atmosphere falling visibly in separate droplets” is freely available on nature.
And I completely agree we do need more facilities for the 99%. Youth clubs, skate parks, volleyball courts, table tennis, more mobile spars on the sea front, showers on the sea front, not to mention toilets, a space for people to freely play instruments designed in such a way that the sound is directed out towards the sea and away from residences.
I completely agree with you. As a local resident (a street away) I tried to use the cafe to be told it was members only. This is a walled off area for rich people and adds zero value to the local community. If they have loud people on an external balcony at night that wake up my babies then I’d be furious. Thank you B&H planning.
This place adds a lot of value to the community. I used to go there and it is a really lovely gym. Head and shoulders above anything else in Brighton. I wish they would build one of these near me as the only issue is there is no parking. It is also really nice to go somewhere where being older you don’t feel as self-conscious as in many of the other gyms which are full of body builders or 25 year olds.
The terrace they have built and retrospectively sought planning permission for is directly above my garden and looks directly into our bathroom. We are so relieved that the planning committee saw sense and did not approve this Underhanded attempt to sneak an entire outdoor dining area onto the property. It’s been 3 years in the making, I’m sure they will try again, and so this may continue but for now common sense prevails.