{"id":760384,"date":"2026-09-05T02:52:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/760384\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T02:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:52:10","slug":"new-gym-cafe-and-rehab-space-planned-at-scout-hut-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/760384\/","title":{"rendered":"New gym, caf\u00e9 and rehab space planned at Scout hut site"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Eastleigh<\/a> Borough Council is considering proposals for the Brickfield Lane site in Chandler\u2019s Ford, where 1st Chandler\u2019s Ford Scout Group wants to build a two-storey facility incorporating Scouting space, a gym, rehabilitation rooms and a community caf\u00e9.\n<\/p>\n

\n The application was submitted by Charles Balchin on behalf of the Scout group, alongside CrossFit Southampton and Momentum Fitness Charity.\n<\/p>\n

\n The existing wooden hut has been used by the Scout group since 1964, after it was moved from Petersfield, where it had previously served as an RAF dispersal hut during the Second World War.\n<\/p>\n

\n The Scout hut plans at the Brickfield Lane site in Chandler’s Ford. Photo: EBC planning portal\n<\/p>\n

\n But planning documents said the building is now \u201cno longer fit for purpose\u201d, with rotting timber cladding, water leaks, an unreliable heating system and a leaking asbestos roof.\n<\/p>\n

\n The hut is uninsulated, difficult to warm in winter and can become too hot during summer activities, the application said.\n<\/p>\n

\n It also lacks disabled facilities, meaning wheelchair users cannot currently be accommodated.\n<\/p>\n

\n Around a third of the new building would be used by the Scouts, providing a hall, meeting rooms, kitchen, toilets, equipment storage and access to a rear garden.\n<\/p>\n

\n The remaining space would house coach-led fitness classes run by CrossFit Southampton, plus a dedicated rehabilitation gym and consultation room for Momentum Fitness Charity.\n<\/p>\n

\n The charity provides exercise therapy for children affected by cancer, as well as programmes for older people at risk of loneliness and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.\n<\/p>\n

\n Documents submitted to the council state that the dedicated rehabilitation room would offer a more private, ventilated and infection-controlled setting for people with long-term health conditions.\n<\/p>\n

\n A caf\u00e9 and social space are also proposed, with the charity intending to operate it as a non-profit social enterprise.\n<\/p>\n

\n The plans include 17 parking spaces, cycle storage, accessible toilets, a platform lift and step-free access.\n<\/p>\n

\n CrossFit Southampton said the move would help secure its future amid rising rent at its current premises in Eastleigh.\n<\/p>\n

\n The group employs the equivalent of four and a half full-time staff, while Momentum Fitness Charity has the equivalent of three full-time roles.\n<\/p>\n

\n A decision is due by November 25, 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eastleigh Borough Council is considering proposals for the Brickfield Lane site in Chandler\u2019s Ford, where 1st Chandler\u2019s Ford…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":760385,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[6647,102,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-760384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fitness","tag-fitness","tag-health","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/760384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=760384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/760384\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/760385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=760384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=760384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=760384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}