New South Shields health and fitness studios to open in former GP surgery after plans approved, creating five jobs

Plans to convert a former doctor’s surgery into private health and fitness studios have been given the green light.
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According to planning documents, the building stopped operating as a surgery in 2016 with planning permission later granted for flats.

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New proposals submitted to South Tyneside Council aimed to transform the site into a health centre.

The building concerned in Westoe Road.The building concerned in Westoe Road.
The building concerned in Westoe Road.

Plans include an office and fitness studio room on the ground floor, two offices and a wellbeing studio on the first floor and a board room and archive space on the second floor.

In addition, the proposals are expected to create five jobs – three full-time and two part-time roles.

Information provided by the applicant stressed the fitness and wellbeing studios would not open to the public as a conventional gym.

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Instead, the centre will operate for around 25 hours per week with private classes and sessions led by a personal trainer on a one-to-one/ two basis.

Sessions would last up to 1.5hours with clients booking a slot through a “scheduled appointment system” and two parking spaces would be provided for customers at the rear.

The plans were approved by the council’s planning authority on Tuesday, July 28.

No concerns were raised by the council’s environmental health or highways departments during consultation.

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A decision report reads: “Whilst the proposed car parking spaces fall short of the standards as set out, these are maximum [parking] standards and given the prevalence of public car parking spaces in the area, and the good access to public transport provision, this is deemed to be acceptable on balance.

“It is recommended that a condition be attached requiring the two parking spaces to be provided and retained, to ensure no resultant impact on highway safety and an adequate supply of off-street car parking is maintained in accordance with policies of the South Tyneside Local Development Framework.”

It goes on to say: “In conclusion, the proposal would have no significant adverse impacts upon residential or visual amenity, or highway safety and the principle of use would be acceptable.”

Proposed opening times include 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday and occasionally between 8am-4pm on Saturdays.

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