Wokingham borough council planning officers have granted permission for a vacant warehouse in Winnersh to be repurposed as a branch of PureGym, a decision that will see the unit operate on a 24/7 basis.
Decision and site details
The application covered a unit off King Street Lane within the Winnersh District Centre that previously had lawful storage and distribution use with ancillary sales and was latterly occupied as a kitchen fittings showroom. Officers approved application 260600 on 23 July.
The building sits set back from the highway with an existing parking and service area to the front. It backs onto housing on Reading Road and Rainbow Park and is adjoined by a timber merchant and an industrial unit. No external alterations were proposed; the plan relies on the current highway access and car parking layout.
Hours, activities and noise assessment
PureGym intends to open all day and night, though the developer and officers note there would be no staffed presence overnight and that there are to be no gym classes during those hours. The council required an acoustic assessment and recommended mitigation measures to be secured as planning conditions.
"It is recognised that 24-hour opening represents a material change in operational characteristics when compared to the site’s previous occupation... this factor does not justify refusal," the officers said in their decision.
Officers considered the acoustic report, the response from Environmental Health and the anticipated low level of overnight patronage. On that basis they concluded that, provided mitigation measures are implemented, the scheme would not cause unacceptable harm to the amenity of neighbouring occupiers.
Local impact and practical points
For nearby residents the principal issues are likely to be noise, vehicle movements and informal late‑night use of the car park. The council’s decision indicates these risks were weighed against the benefits of bringing a long-vacant unit back into active commercial use.
- Operator: PureGym
- Location: Unit off King Street Lane, Winnersh
- Decision: Application 260600 approved on 23 July
- Hours: 24/7 operation; no overnight staff; no classes overnight
| Previous use | Proposed use |
|---|---|
| Storage & distribution / kitchen showroom | Gym (leisure) with 24-hour opening |
Residents seeking more information can consult the council’s planning portal for the full decision notice and the conditions attached to application 260600. The approval demonstrates the council’s readiness to permit round‑the‑clock leisure operations where acoustic and amenity impacts can be mitigated.
From a planning perspective, the case highlights the balance local authorities must strike between regenerating vacant commercial floorspace and safeguarding residential amenity when out-of-hours activity is proposed.
