AN APPLICATION to change the use of an empty Pembrokeshire town centre shop to a health and fitness facility has been approved by county planners, who praised local investors “thinking outside the box”.
In an application before Pembrokeshire County council’s March planning committee meeting, Darren and Samantha Winn, of Inner Tiger Fitness, sought permission for the change of use of the former Original Factory Shop, 58-66, Charles Street, Milford Haven to a health and fitness facility with a retail/cafe element.
The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) opened its doors at the large two-storey Charles Street building in in June 2010, in the building that was originally occupied by Woolworths, closing early last year.
A report for committee members said: “The ground floor facing Charles Street is occupied by a large retail unit, with an extensive shop window, selling a range of comparison goods such as clothing and kitchenware. On the intermediate ground floor and lower ground floor levels are storage areas, staff offices and an external loading area.”
It said the scheme – supported by Milford Haven Town Council – would create two full-time posts and four part-time posts; the facilities operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Four objections to the proposal were raised covering the vitality and viability of the town centre, parking noise and disturbance, and waste services.
Speaking at the meeting, applicant Darren Winn said: “What we’re proposing isn’t just a gym, a health and wellbeing centre open to all walks of life, not just your typical gym-goer,” adding the ‘café’ element would take the form of a ‘protein bar’ rather than a traditional café, describing it as “a social space for people after they’ve worked out, a place to hang out afterwards, increasing your mental health as well as physical health.”
Committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock moved the recommendation of approval be adopted, saying: “I think this is a very well worked application; town centres are going to have to have much more multifunctional use.”
Cllr Mark Carter said there was a need for town centres to “think outside the box” in the days of town centre retail trade suffering through “the likes of Amazon,” adding: “The operation that was there before, if they can’t sort of make things happen it’s down to local investors to make things happen.”
Members unanimously supported the application.
