A pair of “local lads” may be forced to close their business in Holmes Chapel due to “absolutely crazy” planning rules.
Co-owners Jamie Law and Kieran Leyland, who have known each other since primary school, opened their “dream” gym, Revolve Fitness, on the Manor Point industrial estate off Manor Lane, in March.
They had previously applied for a change of use application for the industrial unit from offices to a gym.
But just four months later it was thrown out by a Cheshire East Council planning officer under delegated authority, because the unit could only be used as a place of employment.
The notice of decision letter from the council had said: “The development results in the change of use of a commercial unit protected for employment use to a non-employment use.”
But Mr Law said: “As a gym, they deem us a non-employment business, but we employ all local staff and have used all local tradesmen; we’ve tried to make that point to them.”
He explained that the gym currently had 185 members, five staff on its books and a further five freelancers who used the space regularly to run personal training sessions and classes.
He hoped to be able to grow the business and offer more employment opportunities in the future.
Mr Law added: “All the work we’ve had done on the building has been done by local tradespeople, including a local sparky who I’ve known since I was four.
“The only thing that isn’t local is our equipment, because there isn’t a manufacturer in Holmes Chapel. It seems absolutely crazy that they deem us as a non-employment business.”
He pointed out a sign at the entrance to Manor Point industrial estate, which advertised the units as the “perfect location” for “business, self-storage, showroom … leisure, gym and e-retail.”
Mr Law wrote to local MP Sarah Russell for help, but was told that she could not assist because it was a “legal matter”.
Attempts
Despite multiple attempts to contact the council over its decision, he had been unable to speak to any members of the planning team.
“We’ve both known Holmes Chapel all our lives, it was our dream when we started this project two years ago, and now two local lads are trying to open a business and the council won’t talk to us, but they’ll happily take our business rates every month.
“It is frustrating, but at the moment we’re just trying to crack on.”
Deborah Leyland, a regular user of the gym, said: “There are quite a few of us that don’t want this to close because we don’t like the other gyms, and we don’t want to go back to having to travel out of the village.
“It’s not cliquey, and it’s a proper gym environment.”
Mr Law said Coun Russell Chadwick, who represents Dane Valley ward for Cheshire East, had been “really supportive” and that Holmes Chapel Parish Council was also backing the gym.
Coun Chadwick said: “They’re local lads and their dad grew up in the village, so we need to support them all we can. It’s a great little gym so I’m definitely on their side.
“I was rather taken aback by Sarah Russell’s response. As a new MP I would have thought she would have referred it to the Cheshire East ward councillor for review, rather than just say that she wasn’t getting involved.”
He said he had “made representations” to the planning team on behalf of the owners, but was yet to receive a response.
In its decision letter, the council said Revolve Fitness would have six months to lodge an appeal with the secretary of state.
The business would be liable for the legal costs of both parties if it lost the appeal.
Coun Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s Environment and Communities Committee, said: “A decision has been made on this planning application and it would not be appropriate for the council to comment further. The applicant has the right to appeal and has six months from the date of the decision to do so.”
Mrs Russell was asked to comment.
