The Planning Applications Committee of Lambeth Council met on Tuesday 28 July 2026 and granted conditional planning permission for the temporary change of use of Units 3 and 4 of the Mahatma Gandhi Industrial Estate to a community gym and outreach centre. The committee also discussed the importance of protecting Key Industrial Business Areas (KIBA) within the borough.

Mahatma Gandhi Industrial Estate: Temporary Gym Use Approved

The committee considered an application for the temporary change of use of Units 3 and 4 at the Mahatma Gandhi Industrial Estate from industrial/storage (Use Class B2/B8) to a community gym and ancillary community outreach space (Use Class E(d)) for a period of two years. The applicant, The Block Workout Foundation (BWF), also known as the Brixton Street Gym, is a charitable incorporated organisation that provides fitness sessions and mentoring for young people and the wider community.

The proposal was presented as a departure from the development plan, specifically Lambeth Local Plan (LLP) Policy ED3, which protects Key Industrial Business Areas (KIBA) for industrial and storage uses. Officers noted that the London Plan (LP) also seeks to maintain a sufficient supply of land for industrial, logistics, and related functions.

However, the committee heard that the temporary relocation was necessary to allow for the redevelopment of BWF's current premises at Somerleyton Road, which will eventually provide a permanent space for the gym. A thorough search for alternative temporary accommodation had been undertaken, which demonstrated that no suitable sites were available within town centres or edge-of-centre locations.

Arguments for the proposal:

• Public Benefit: The Block Workout Foundation provides significant community benefits, supporting health and wellbeing, community engagement, and positive opportunities for young people, particularly those facing barriers to mainstream fitness facilities. Councillor Viktor Westerdahl highlighted the importance of such initiatives, stating, I think exactly this is the thing we should bend the rules for.
• Enabling Regeneration: The temporary use would facilitate the timely delivery of the Somerleyton Road Phase 2 development, a wider regeneration benefit.
• Productive Use of Vacant Space: Unit 3 had been vacant for approximately two years, and the proposal would make productive use of this floor space.
• Personal Permission: The permission was recommended to be personal to the Block Workout Foundation, ensuring that the site could not be used by another gym operator should BWF vacate. This was seen as a significant safeguard for the KIBA.
• Temporary Nature: The use was explicitly temporary, with a commitment for the units to return to their previous industrial/storage use at the end of the permission period.

Arguments against the proposal (and officer responses):

• Conflict with KIBA Policy: The primary conflict was with policies protecting KIBA land for industrial and storage uses. Officers acknowledged this fundamental conflict but argued that material considerations, particularly the public benefits and the temporary nature of the use, outweighed this.
• Duration of Temporary Permission: Councillor Westerdahl questioned the proposed two-year limit, suggesting a longer period might be more practical given potential construction delays. Officers explained that a shorter, reviewable period provided greater control and allowed for reassessment if construction timelines shifted. They also noted that an extension could be applied for. Councillor David Ford proposed an amendment to extend the temporary use to three and a half years, arguing that it was a personal commission, which is a really, really rare thing and offered plenty of protection for KIBA. This amendment was seconded by Councillor Jacqueline Bond.

Decision:

After discussion, the committee voted on the amended motion to extend the temporary use to three and a half years. This motion was lost. Subsequently, the committee voted on the original officer recommendation to grant conditional planning permission for a two-year temporary period. This motion was passed unanimously.

The decision to grant permission was subject to several conditions, including that the use would be limited to the Block Workout Foundation for two years, that the premises would revert to their former industrial/storage use thereafter, and that the development would be carried out in accordance with the approved Community Use Management Plan and Acoustic Report. The conditions also stipulated specific opening hours and prohibited any associated car parking.

The meeting also included brief housekeeping items, including the confirmation of previous minutes. Councillor Allen was noted as being unable to participate in the discussion or vote on this item due to arriving after it had commenced.