Hundreds of people have objected to plans to subdivide a former gym on a leisure park into smaller units.
Planners have recommended approving Aviva Leisure’s application to split the former Nuffield gym in Crawley Leisure Park into four units – which it says will be let to two restaurants, a gym and a children’s indoor play centre.
A report going before Crawley Borough Council’s planning committee on Monday says 274 people objected – mostly members of the now-closed gym.
Crawley MP Peter Lamb also objected, on the grounds there’s not enough parking, and Parkinson’s UK’s local branch also wrote to say its members would suffer if the gym closed.
However, Nuffield itself said it had no objections. One person wrote in support of the application.
The application was submitted in April 2023, seven months before Nuffield closed its doors.
The report said: “The gym and its swimming pool were clearly very popular with the members.
“The gym clearly also provided a wide range of other services, including physiotherapy and help for people with mobility difficulties and other health conditions.
“Its loss has had a major impact on the former users and staff of the Nuffield gym.
“It is not clear why the Nuffield gym closed but, as an individual business, had no specific protection under the planning system.
“Whilst previous Nuffield gym users do not see it as an adequate replacement, the proposal does include a new gym. The planning system cannot protect individual businesses or address competition issues.
“Whilst the new gym is significantly smaller and without a swimming pool, it is equivalent in planning policy terms. Officers appreciate and understand that it is extremely unfortunate for users and staff that the Nuffield gym closed, but planning permission could not be refused on that basis.”
The application includes improved paving running from the Ifield Avenue entrance, past the application site to Hollywood Bowl and then across Cineworld to the restaurants.
To view the application, log on to planningregister.crawley.gov.uk and search for CR/2023/0242/FUL.
