Gym planned for Lea Wharf

A new 24-hour gym will open in the remaining retail unit in Lea Wharf if plans are approved by East Herts Council.

The gym would occupy units 5, 6 and 7 of the development, facing in to the main square, bus station walkway and overlooking the river.

Pure Gym is the largest gym group in the UK with over 400 locations, providing health and fitness facilities on a low-cost, no-contract basis. The proposed gym at Lea Wharf will provide a range of cardiovascular, strength and functional training equipment together with group exercise classes and personal training services.

A previous planning application to open a gym in the former Gates site is Gascoyne Way was refused in 2023 due to inadequate parking an impact on surrounding homes.

Regarding the 24-hour operation, the application states: "Between the hours of 11pm and 6am, it would be expected that an average of 5-10 users would visit the gym per hour on weekdays and less than 5 per hour at weekends. Gym classes will not be held at night and only background music will be played within the gym."

A covering letter explains that "The application site is in a highly accessible location within Hertford Town Centre with good access to public car parks and public transport facilities. It is also accessible on foot from surrounding residential areas and by other sustainable modes of transport. The current proposal will not generate greater volumes of traffic that the existing permitted uses of Units 5 to 7 and the proposal will have no adverse impacts on the highway network."

The application has drawn a number of objections from residents of Lea Wharf and Riverside, particulatly around the 24-hour operation and disturbance.