Many gymnasiums and other leisure uses are increasingly starting up in industrial units as these offer a cheap and often plentiful supply of space for such businesses. However, it is important that you undertake due diligence before committing to a lease on such a unit, especially if you are looking to use it for an alternative use.
You will need to consider the planning situation and submit a planning application so you have the correct consent to operate from the premises. Don’t make the lease firm without your application being granted, as you could end up with a property you can’t use for the purpose you intended. OK, you can start using it as a gym, but you may then face the risk of enforcement action if you don’t have it in the correct class, so you need to be wary of entering into a tenancy agreement without the right planning permission in place.
Before the Local Planning Authority will grant planning permission they will want to assess the environmental impact of the use which will include looking at noise issues, other pollution, impact on residential amenity, car parking demand, highways – increased traffic etc, Availability of similar things in the area, and suitability of your enterprise within the local neighbourhood.
As part of the process the Planners will consult with other Council departments such as highways and environmental health to get their views on the proposals. The Town or Parish council will also be invited to comment, as well as local councillors.
You may also encounter local objections from local residents and other businesses in the vicinity, some of whom may be willing to spend money resisting applications.
Given some of the pitfalls that may impact your project it is strongly advised to seek professional help through engaging a planning consultant to get an application properly prepared and presented to minimise the risk of it being unsuccessful. The time it takes to receive a decision varies between councils, but is usually around 8 weeks for a straightforward matter.
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We are MPD Built Environment Consultants based in the North of England. We cover many locations including Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and beyond. With over 30 year’s experience in all aspects of Planning, our team include Chartered Planners and Surveyors. We are members of RICS, RTPI, IHBC and various other bodies giving you confidence in the work we do.
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