New gym planned for part of Bridport industrial unit

There'll a part conversion at Seals Cove on St Andrews Trading Estate

Author: Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy ReporterPublished 4th Mar 2024

Part of a Bridport industrial unit has been given planning consent for conversion to a gym.

Little change will be made to the outside of the Seals Cove unit 2 at Shoe Lane on the St Andrews Trading Estate, other than adding an entrance canopy.

The planning application to Dorset Council was submitted by PJS Developments - it says the building is currently being used for storage and distribution with ten parking spaces, which will be retained.

The gym use is proposed for both the ground and the first floor – part of the multi-use 2,000 square metre building.

A previous application to include a beautician and tattooist business on the ground floor was withdrawn because Dorset Council said the uses were better in a town centre location.

The total floor area of the unit proposed for the gym amounts to 430m2 over two floors, with the internal space to be subdivided into separate rooms on the ground floor and first floor for the gymnasium use.

A planning agent says the site forms a part of the multi-use building which has diversified away from traditional employment uses and is now known as Seals Cove, following consent granted in 2017 for the change of use of part of the building from general industrial to a day nursery, sports and recreation facility and café.

Said the planning agent in the application:

“The uses within this large building continue to change, responding to the business needs in the area. In this instance the introduction of a new use will provide an economically viable use of the space and provide employment opportunities without causing any physical or visual detriment to the area.”

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