A new 24-hour gym will be opening in an Oxfordshire town after plans were permitted. 

PureGym can open a new gym at Kings Park, in Limborough Road, Wantage, in a unit previously occupied by the British Heart Foundation. 

Vale of White Horse District Council planning officer permitted the scheme using delegated powers. 

The plans were controversial with residents raising concerns about the potential for noise if people use the facilities at all hours of the night. 

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A total of seven objections and three supporting comments were submitted. 

After the plans were permitted an opening date of December 13 was announced. 

In the planning officers' report, it said: “The change of use and extension to the opening hours to allow 24/7 use of Unit 9 only, in association with the gym use, would not adversely affect the amenity of neighbouring residents or nearby site users, or introduce disturbance at night, as demonstrated by the Noise Impact Assessment underpinning the proposal. 

“Subject to a condition ensuring noise levels to the rear of Grove Street remain no louder than background noise, the relaxation of public opening hours to Unit 9 complies with policies DP23, DP24 and DP25 of the Local Plan Part 2. 

“Users of the gym would continue to have access to vehicle parking, and additional cycle parking has been secured by condition, which amounts to a betterment over the permitted development fallback position. The development accords with the development plan and the NPPF.”

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby