24-hour gym in former Black Country steelworks could still go ahead
A plan to open a 24-hour gym in a former factory could still go ahead despite being rejected by a council.
The proposal by D1 Gyms to open in part of the former Trident Steelworks in Albion Road, West Bromwich, was rejected by Sandwell Council because it ‘clashed’ with its ambition to use the land for employment.
However, the fitness firm has now lodged an appeal with the government planning inspectorate, which has the power to overrule the council, in a bid to get the decision overturned.
The 19-acre site in West Bromwich was earmarked for more than 740 homes in Sandwell Council’s plans first adopted in 2012 - but the site remains untouched by developers.
The site is earmarked as employment land in the emerging Sandwell local plan, a blueprint setting out where homes and other developments would be preferred to be built in the borough up to 2041.
The heavily delayed plan is still being reviewed and is likely to be published later this year.
In its report outlining the refusal, Sandwell Council said: “The site is part of a residential allocation in the adopted development plan and its change to gym use would conflict with policy […] which safeguards allocated sites for residential development and ancillary uses.
“Furthermore, the site is allocated as local employment land in the emerging Sandwell local plan and the development is contrary to [the] policy […] which safeguards local employment land for specific employment-generating uses.
“The development would thereby undermine allocations for housing and employment land within the borough, resulting in the loss of much-needed available land for such uses.”
A statement included with the application said: “The proposal seeks to repurpose the warehouse into a gymnasium, providing a range of fitness facilities including open-plan exercise areas, changing rooms, and ancillary spaces such as a reception.
“The existing building is ideally suited and directly adaptable for this purpose with no works to its structure required.
“The proposed change of use represents a sustainable and community-focused development that re-uses a vacant building while meeting local needs.
“The proposal is unobtrusive, incorporates inclusive access, and aligns with local planning policies.”
