Pilates studio approved despite parking concerns

A wellness influencer who built a £30,000 Pilates studio in her grandparents' back garden has won retrospective planning permission for the business.

Neighbours had complained that the studio in North Wootton, Norfolk, caused problems with parking and noise.

Megan Smith, 24, did not secure planning permission for the gym before opening.

King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council approved the retrospective application unanimously at a meeting on 12 January.

The council's planning committee heard the site had become popular due to its facilities, which included an on-site café, ice bath, sauna and Pilates reformer machines.

However, more than 20 locals lodged objections to the studio.

The main complaints centred around a perceived lack of parking, classes beginning too early, and concern around hen parties being advertised at the studio on Smith's social media page.

Councillor Richard Coates described the section of the village as a "particularly quiet area where not much happens".

He said: "I come from a business background and I would normally want to support businesses, and I look for a reason for the business to exist, but it's a little difficult here because it's a quiet area."

Simon Ring, the deputy leader of the council, said Smith had made "errors" since opening her doors.

"I've never heard of a small, quiet hen party before," he said.

However, rather than push for refusal, Mr Ring proposed that the business be granted permission for one year to see how the small business will work.

He said: "I think we have an approval of this application with correct conditions that can see this small business work.

"I hope the neighbours can get back to being the neighbours that they once were and not objecting to what each other is doing."

Smith said that if the business is successful, she wanted to seek premises elsewhere in the village.

Her grandfather, Bernie Smith, who helped invest in the studio, spoke to councillors prior to the application's approval.

He said: "The studio has operated at a lower intensity than originally envisaged, classes are limited in number, carefully timetabled and spread throughout the week.

"The studio provides local health and wellbeing facilities for all ages. particularly suited to people looking for gentle exercise, rehabilitation, and improvements to both physical and mental well-being."

The decision to award planning permission will be reviewed in 2027.

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