The green light has been given to plans to temporarily move a gym into a town centre college building.
Boston College has been granted permission to transform four units at Spalding’s Red Lion Quarter into a temporary fitness facility — with gym studios, an open plan gym and changing rooms.
The Red Lion Quarter, from Crackpool Lane. Photo: Google Maps
The proposal will allow people who currently use the Castle Sports Complex to have an alternative gym while a £28.3 million revamp of the site is carried out.
The Castle will close on Tuesday, September 9, with the temporary replacement at the Boston College site set to open on Saturday, September 13.
A plan of how the inside will look. Photo: SHDC
A statement submitted as part of the plans for the Boston College site explained: “Due to ongoing construction at the Castle Sports Centre, a temporary gym will be set up at the Boston College site in Spalding to ensure uninterrupted fitness and recreational services for the community.
“This facility will help members maintain their exercise routines, support community engagement, and minimise disruption to sports and fitness programmes.
“We will collaborate with external leisure operators to meet the community’s health and fitness needs during this transition.”
The outside of the Red Lion Quarter, from Red Lion Street. Photo: Google Maps
Documents say the gym has 952 health and fitness members as of June 25. It is expected that this will drop by 20 per cent as a result of the relocation.
As a result, 762 members are predicted to use the temporary facility in Red Lion Street.
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There were concerns raised about the need for the temporary gym given the other private sector facilities in the town — and about the safety of students in the buildings classrooms, which includes people studying in the hair and beauty salon.
A report drawn up by South Holland District Council’s planning officers explained: “Whilst the proposal would not necessarily provide a ‘community use’, the proposal provides additional fitness provision, within close proximity to the defined town centre boundary, and would provide a temporary provision that would otherwise be limited, due to the current redevelopment of the Castle Sports Complex.”
It added: “The use provided is not considered to be unusual for its wider setting and, given the justification and circumstances surrounding the reason for its submission, the proposal is considered to be appropriate and acceptable, irrespective of other gyms being present within the town.”
The temporary gym will be open 6.30am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The use of ‘silent disco’ type headphone systems has been recommended for some classes to avoid a noise impact on students.
The Castle swimming pool will stay open throughout the works — with a new replacement pool being built on the same site as the current gym facilities which will supersede it when finished.
The Castle revamp is due to end in January 2027.