A landmark proposal to transform part of Bideford’s historic Town Hall into a new sport and fitness hub will come before councillors this week, as Torridge District Council seeks permission to repurpose the former library into a “multi-functional sport and fitness facility”.
Members of Torridge District Council’s planning committee will consider the application on Thursday, March 5, relating to the Town Hall on Bridge Street, Bideford. The council is itself the applicant and owner of the site, which is why the proposal has been referred to committee.
The application seeks permission for the “change of use of library to create a multi-functional sport and fitness facility and associated alterations. ”The recommendation before councillors is to grant planning permission.
The scheme would see the former library space converted into a gym and fitness facility, including changing rooms and showers. In addition, the ground floor offices, reception and members’ lounge would be reconfigured to create co-working areas.
According to the committee report, the development includes:
- “Change of use of the Library to a Gym and Fitness facility, including changing rooms and showers.”
- “Internal alterations to the ground floor offices, reception and members lounge to create a series of Co-Working spaces, break-out spaces and managers office.”
- Replacement of a single-storey rear extension.
- Upgrades to windows through secondary glazing.
- Fire safety improvements to internal doors.
- Upgraded heating, power, lighting and ventilation.
- Accessibility improvements.
- Full replacement of the roof with improved insulation.
- Rebuilding of dormers.
- Repairs to the rear retaining boundary wall and general conservation works to the listed building fabric .
No on-site parking spaces are proposed, but the site lies within Bideford town centre, close to existing car parks and public transport links.
The gym is proposed to operate between 6.30am and 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and 10am to 6pm on bank holidays .
The Town Hall and Public Library building is a Grade II listed heritage asset within Bideford Conservation Area . The report notes that the works are “contained within the current shell of the building and do not impact on the setting of nearby listed buildings nor the views within the conservation area” .
The conservation officer concluded that “there are no objections in principle to the works as shown” and that the proposal “would be acceptable under sections 16, 66 and 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation areas) Act 1990” .
The site is also located within Flood Zone 3 and Bideford’s Critical Drainage Area . The Environment Agency did not submit a formal representation .
Planning officers say the principle of the development has already been accepted under an earlier extant permission for a similar change of use .
The report states that the scheme “would not result in the loss of employment floorspace” and describes the project as “a positive regeneration scheme for the economic redevelopment of an existing building within the Town/Primary Shopping Centre of Bideford” .
The council’s community projects officer, Adrian Avery, supported the plans, writing: “There is clearly a need for creating more spaces that support improving health and wellbeing and this is an opportunity to utilise a building with a viable delivery mechanism to do so and improve a historic building that seems in desperate need of this. The recent Active Lives survey still suggests that Torridge is the most inactive area of Devon so this will help support combating this issue locally.”
Bideford Town Council, however, resolved that “the application is not approved” , although no reasons were set out in the report.
No letters of support, objection or neutral comment were received from members of the public .
Devon County Council, as the local highway authority, raised no objections, stating: “I have considered the likely trip generation between the extant permission and that of the proposal. I have also considered the available parking opportunities in the area, as well as the sustainability of the location in terms of transport links. As a result, I raise no highway objections.”
Councillors will debate the application at Thursday’s meeting. Planning officers have recommended that permission be granted , subject to conditions including restrictions on construction hours to protect neighbouring residential amenity .
