Sudbury Town Council opposes plans for 24-hour PureGym at former Carpetright over concerns of precedent risk at retail park

Proposals for a 24-hour gym at a Sudbury retail park face opposition from town councillors over concerns that its all-day operating model could set a damaging precedent.

Sudbury Town Council has recommended refusal on a change-of-use application by health and fitness chain PureGym, which wants open a new site on Shawlands Retail Park.

The application is for the former Carpetright store in Newton Road, and is awaiting a decision from Babergh District Council.

The plans include a main gym, studio, free weights and spin areas, a functional zone, changing facilities, showers and a separate staff area, with up to 15 jobs created.

A statement on behalf of PureGym said: “The application scheme will provide a high-quality but affordable fitness facility that will serve to diversify the existing leisure offer within Sudbury.

“The flexible format of the PureGym concept, including its 24-hour opening, will support flexible working and enable the benefits of gym membership to be enjoyed by all members of the local community.”

However, the 24/7 model drew a negative response from Sudbury Town Council at a meeting last week, due to the knock-on effect this could have on the rest of the retail park.

This is because the park’s existing conditions do not allow businesses to be open all day.

Councillor Nicholas Younger told the meeting: “By setting a precedent for one business to be open 24 hours, all the rest of the businesses could apply to be open 24 hours.

“Then, the whole place would be open 24 hours. I don’t agree with it.”

Councillors also indicated there are insufficient parking provisions on the near side of the retail park’s gates, which are currently closed out of hours by the Shawlands Management Company.

Fellow councillor Adrian Osborne stated that, if the gates were opened at night, this could attract the kind of anti-social behaviour that had previously been an issue in the area.

“We used to, and we still do, get youngsters who come up with their cars, park them up there, roar around and do whatever they want,” he said.

“I’m looking at the point of view from the evening onwards. Does that gate still get closed, or do we allow the cars up there that we’ve seen many times?”

Summarising their arguments, Nigel Bennet added: “If you allow one business to open 24 hours, then others could potentially.

“Do we want that? Is that a good thing? That’s probably where it has more of an impact on the neighbouring area.

“Linked to that is the problem that there has been in the past about anti-social behaviour.

“If you’ve got to have the car park open 24 hours, there’s a risk of that problem returning.”

PureGym’s planning statement claims that it had deemed the Shawlands site to be best suited for its needs, after assessing various vacant venues around the town.

Other sites considered included the former Barclays Bank on Market Hill, the space above Sue Ryder in North Street, and the former Vanners factory in Gregory Street.

Public comments on the application can be submitted until Tuesday. To view the plans, go to Babergh’s online planning portal and use the reference DC/24/04571.