2 days ago
Gym could be turfed out because it has no planning permission
Gym could be turfed out because it has no planning permission
The operator has already kitted out the inside with a mezzanine floor, equipment zones, changing facilities and staff spaces
A satellite view of Springvale industrial estate
(Image: Google Earth)
A gym could be forced to move for the second time in a year due to a planning wrangle. Cwmbran's Sugar Rogue gym, which is run by the not-for-profit Thornhill Community Leisure, has been operating at Springvale industrial estate without planning permission.
It only moved to the estate in February after Torfaen council's planning department demanded it stop using its previous unit — which was in nearby Woodside Park — and launched enforcement proceedings over the unauthorised change from industrial use.
Now the operator has submitted a retrospective planning application for the current site, seeking to change its use from 'storage and distribution' to leisure.
The application states the Springvale unit has been vacant since 2017 and that no changes to the exterior are planned other than the addition of two bird and bat boxes. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter .
But Thornhill Community Leisure has already kitted out the inside with a mezzanine floor, equipment zones, changing facilities and staff spaces.
The not-for-profit, which offers Crossfit and Hyrox workouts, has previously worked with the council to offer single-sex training sessions.
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Its application states: 'The facility runs a number of targeted initiatives, including youth fitness sessions to support early intervention in health inequalities and women-only classes to address gender-based barriers to participation. The facility also offers a GCSE weightlifting syllabus.
'In early 2024, the organisation partnered with [the council's] sports development team to deliver Project X (a free of charge, 10-week fitness and wellbeing programme exclusively for men in the borough).
'Hosted at the Sugar Rogue gym, the initiative combined Crossfit, military-style training and mindset coaching to improve participants' physical and mental health and exemplified the organisation's ongoing commitment to community focused health interventions.
'In May 2025, Thornhill Community Leisure Ltd raised £15,000 for the Pink Appeal at Velindre Cancer Centre through a series of community fundraising events, including fitness challenges and sponsored workouts.'
The applicant explains a retrospective application for its previous location is still undecided but it understands the planning department is not in favour of approval as it would mean the loss of designated employment land.
According to the application for the Springvale unit, the operating hours would be from 6am to 8.30pm on weekdays and 8.30am to 11am on weekends.
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The unit already has 79 parking spaces while a bike rack with 10 spaces would be provided if the application were to be approved.
The proposal continues to be considered by the planning department.
